The post I published a little while ago about alternate embellishment techniques really got me back into one of my favourite varieties… washi tape collage. It’s fast become one of the most relaxing ways to work on a piece, and I love doing washi collage when I’m feeling particularly stressed or anxious.
I first discovered this technique when I stumbled across the work of @shardula (real name May Ann Licudine) on instagram. Her art is so delicate and lovely!
Washi means ‘paper’ in Japanese, so washi tape literally means paper tape. To be honest it’s basically fancy masking tape, but the quality is mostly above and beyond what you’d usually find. It’s a joy to work with since it’s strong, versatile and comes in every pattern imaginable, allowing for a wide variety of uses.
In the style of my childhood hero Neil from Art Attack, “here’s one I made earlier”:
As you can see, the semi-opaque quality of washi tape makes it really easy to work with. As the line art can be seen through the tape, this helps to prevent the artwork from looking too loose, while also adding more detail and letting the accuracy of your actual collage be a little more lenient.
So, onto the ‘how to’! ❀
You’ll need:
- An image to work with– try using a simple line art image for the best results. Use good card stock to minimise accidental cuts on the paper when collaging~
- A selection of washi tapes (good quality so they adhere to the paper and don’t lift at the edges)
- A sharp scalpel or craft knife– mine has a thin pointed blade for the best precision when cutting fiddly bits!
- Watercolours or another medium to add final details to the image (optional)
I’m starting off with a plain line art image- this can be anything but I’m sticking with a similar type of concept as my example, as it has lots of potential for patterned collage.
Select a tape that you’d like to use- I find solid repeat patterns are the best to use, with photographic themed tapes (e.g. characters, food, animals) being a bit less favourable for this application.
I usually work on the largest area first. Depending on how wide your tape is, you can cover a whole section with one piece, or you might need to lay strips side by side. If the pattern allows you can try to match up the pattern to create a seamless design, but honestly I think the organic nature of the workflow shines through if the tapes are slightly misaligned c:
Temporarily press the tape into place while it’s still attached to the roll, then use your scalpel to lightly cut around the edge of the area, leaving a clean cut where the pattern ends and preserving as much washi as possible (this stuff can be pricey!)
Because good washi tape won’t damage the paper, you can reposition this as many times as you need to. A wee dab of glue will fix any curling edges when a piece has been repositioned one too many times ^^” I use the edge of my scalpel handle to firmly press the washi down when I’m happy with how it looks.
If the tape is light in colour and translucent enough, you should be able to see the line art through the tape when working, which is really useful as it makes it much easier to see what you’re doing. If the tape is dark or too opaque you can still use these techniques, it just takes a little bit more guesswork… try chipping away at an edge to maintain a precise cut rather than winging it on the first go~
If you have a roll of tape that has lots of bold large scale pattern, you can also cut out individual elements to add to the image as stand alone embellishment. For example, this really wide roll I have features lots of leafy, flowery type things that can be easily cut out, due to their solid edges and distinct shapes. Even if the pattern runs off the edge of the tape, you can just fashion your own leaf or petal edge out of the existing imagery.
Use every pattern to your advantage- tapes can be applied sideways to follow the shape of the image, or used sparingly to embellish a tiny portion of the piece!
To finish off, you can hand embellish the remaining bits of the image with watercolour, ink pen or whatever you fancy using. I like to fill in areas that wouldn’t have worked well with washi, e.g. hair, skin, and other textures that weren’t represented within my tape collection.
And there you have it- your own little washi collage. Not thrilled about the tapes I used for this image, but at the time of writing I was waiting on a new stash to arrive ^^”
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial! I’ve also compiled a list of tips and tricks, as well as some of the best sources for nice washi ❀
Tips and Tricks~
– Using a super sharp knife (as is needed) might result in you accidentally cutting through the paper… I do this literally all the time. Most cuts will be so crisp that you can simply push the paper back together, effectively ‘sealing’ the cut closed. Add a little bit of very strong tape (e.g. heavy duty masking tape or clear sellotape) to the reverse of the image if you want to stop the cut from lifting open again. c:
– Always use this technique on a separate piece of paper, rather than in a sketchbook where there’ll be other imagery on the reverse of the sheet. You can always insert any finished washi collage into a sketchbook after you’ve finished~
– Tapes come in loads of widths, from really thin to over 2 inches wide! Use this to your advantage to preserve tape and fill in tiny details ♥ You can also purchase special ‘writeable’ washi tape, where the surface is less waxy, allowing for detail to be added over the top of any collage work.
– Don’t know which washi to use? Keep a swatch book with examples of all your tapes- that way, you’ll know how big/long the repeat is, what direction the repeat runs in and exactly which elements are on each roll. Here’s a page from my swatch book:
Where to Buy~
Washi is available in an infinite amount of patterns and styles- I’ve collected washi for a long time! Some of the best sources are:
- Paperchase– the seasonal tape collections often go on sale, so watch out for any upcoming discounts. A bit hit and miss at times, but every so often I find a real gem in here! Most of the tapes are a bit Basic though haha
- Michaels (US-based craft store)- they sell huge bumper packs of washi in tons of themes and often run ‘50% off one item’ coupons.
- Fox and Star– loooove this store, but they’re a bit on the Super Duper Expensive side. Single washi rolls are always priced at a premium compared to multipacks, but it’s UK based to save on postage, at least~
- MiSoPaper– this online store has lots of tapes that fit my personal tastes. Slightly limited in certain categories, but can be quite affordable and there’s free delivery over £15 c:
- If you’re feeling brave, try AliExpress– like all of the above, but a tenth of the price but takes 2+ months to arrive. You will find every single variation of ‘weird and wonderful’ on Ali! c:
- Above all of these sources, nothing brings more joy than finding a one-off store that’s washi heaven. All of my favourite tapes are from a stationery store I stumbled upon during my trip to Shanghai- it really had it all. Rolls were 7 yuan (80p) a piece; the multipacks even better value! My fave find was a beautiful little box of Sakura washi:
And that’s a wrap! Sorry this was a long’un- thanks for reading! I hope this is helpful ♥♥♥
References
AliExpress (2019). AliExpress – Smarter Shopping, Better Living! [online]. Available at: https://www.aliexpress.com [Accessed 28 Jan 2019].
Collingwood, C. (2019). ‘Gingko Fan’ Washi Tape Collage [digital, ink, watercolour, washi tape].
Collingwood, C. (2018). ‘Maiko’ Washi Tape Collage [ink, washi tape].
Collingwood, C. (2019). ‘Sakura Dream’ Washi Tape Box [photograph].
Collingwood, C. (2019). Washi Tape Collage Tutorial: Cutting Washi [photograph].
Collingwood, C. (2019). Washi Tape Collage Tutorial: Materials [photograph].
Collingwood, C. (2019). Washi Tape Collage Tutorial: Small Detailing [photograph].
Collingwood, C. (2019). Washi Tape Collage Tutorial: Translucent Line Art Detail [photograph].
Collingwood, C. (2019). Washi Tape Swatch Book [photograph].
Fox and Star UK. (n.d.). Fox and Star UK – Cute stationery suppliers [online]. Available at: https://www.thefoxandstar.co.uk [Accessed 28 Jan 2019].
Fox and Star UK. (n.d.). Fox and Star UK – MT ex Bird Egg Washi Tape [online]. Available at: https://www.thefoxandstar.co.uk [Accessed 28 Jan 2019].
Licudine, May Ann. (n.d.). Mall Licudine (@shardula) – Instagram photos and videos. [online] Available at: https://www.instagram.com/shardula/ [Accessed 28 Jan 2019].
Michaels. (n.d.). Michaels Stores – Art Supplies [online]. Available at: https://www.michaels.com [Accessed 28 Jan 2019].
MiSoPaper. (n.d.). MiSoPaper – Home [online]. Available at: https://misopaper.co.uk [Accessed 28 Jan 2019].
Paperchase. (n.d.). Paperchase GB [online]. Available at: https://www.paperchase.com/en_gb/ [Accessed 28 Jan 2019].
chalon joy collingwood 