Making Art Papers with CitraSolv

posted in: CRAFTY HOW TO | 8

CTS1

I love using “CitraSolv paper” as I call it, in my mixed media collages, but found I had about wiped out my stash!  Time for a CitraSolv party!  I gathered my supplies:

CitraSolv Concentrated Cleaner

spray bottle

National Geographic magazines (I like to use 2000 or newer)

newspaper

clothesline and clothespins

That’s it!  Though this time I added alcohol inks in spray bottles to play around with some added colors.

CTS3

After spraying several pages generously with the CitraSolv, I closed the National Geographic magazines and let them sit for awhile – maybe 5 minutes or so.  On the pages I played with the ink, I alternated between spraying it on with the CitraSolv, or spraying it later onto the still wet pages.  When I opened the pages, they were a wet, wrinkly mess of beautiful inky designs. WARNING:  your hands will end up a MESS, so if you don’t want to have black fingernails the next few days you might want to add gloves to your supply list.

CTS4

I carefully tear each page out of the magazine and promptly hang it on the clothesline I put up.  I really like doing this outside, or on a screened porch both because of the mess, and because the ever present Kansas breeze helps dry the pages quickly, making room on the line for more!

CTS2 CTS6

Once completely dry, I pull them off the line and end up with a nice stack of pretty and unique papers.  Before I work with them, I will spray with a workable fixative to keep them from getting smudgy.

CTS7

Now I am ready for creating!

For more on CitraSolv as an art medium:

https://fromvictoryroad.com/2013/05/08/citra-solv-discovery/

Cathy Taylor’s instructional video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6GOGK_BmyY&list=UUQoysbJNEmZrtbP7aFTiBKg

CitraSolv Artist Site

http://www.citrasolv.com/art/index.html

To view my art on the CitraSolv Artist Site

http://www.citrasolv.com/art/Kayann.html

And, for my Somerset Studio magazine article on using CitraSolv

http://stampington.com/somerset-studio/Somerset-Studio-Sep-Oct-2012

8 Responses

  1. judy corlett

    every time i try to click on the citrasolv link, it disapears. same with your list at the right. what’s up?

    • Kayann Ausherman

      Hmm, this is an old post, so I am not sure. But I will look into it!

  2. Sharon Eley

    What are the best date ranges for using National Geographic with Citra Solv. I read somewhere the newer magazines don’t work as well.

    • Kayann Ausherman

      Sharon, I actually feel just the opposite! For most reliable results I prefer the years 2000 and newer!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *