The art of decoupage very simply involves cutting pictures and paper and sticking them on different surfaces and then coating the pictures with a layer of glue or varnish. It requires you to learn more about the art of decoupage and what are the appropriate tools and instructions necessary to create professional artwork.
By reading this article, you will learn about the art of decoupage in detail, how to get started and what materials you need completely.
What is the art of decoupage?
The origin of the term decoupage comes from the French word “decoupler”, which means to cut something. Decoupage is the art of cutting and pasting to simulate a drawing on a surface of wood, metal, or glass.
There are many variations of the technique, but the basic common steps, in general, are cutting the images, arranging them to depict a scene or telling a story, gluing them to a metal or wood surface, and applying several layers of varnish or paint to these images.
The basics of starting to learn the art of decoupage
If you want to engage in the art of decoupage, do not worry it is not difficult, you will first choose a suitable surface and prepare it well, and then choose the materials that will help you to produce your masterpiece.
Common surfaces that you can use to apply this art
- the wood.
- tin.
- the glass.
- ceramics.
- Metal.
- Textile (including clothing and footwear).
Essential tools for mastering the art of decoupage
- paper.
- cloth.
- stickers.
- napkins;
- wrapping paper.
- Wallpaper.
- the scissors.
- glue.
- craft knife.
Demo model for learning the art of decoupage yourself
If you want to learn the art of decoupage you should try something simple first, so I suggest you this simple demo model, all you have to bring the necessary tools and follow the basic steps:
Tools
- Surface selection.
- Scrapbook paper or canvas.
- Acrylic paint.
- scissors.
- paintbrush
- ruler.
- craft knife.
Basic steps
Follow these steps to implement your artistic project professionally:
- Step 1: Prepare the appropriate surface
You can use any surface suitable for creating the art of decoupage that we have already mentioned, the most famous of which are wooden surfaces, glass, and metal, then cover the surface with acrylic paint.
- Step 2: Choose the items to be modified.
Prepare and choose paper, designs, or whatever you plan to unfold and paste. Experiment with design elements to determine the layout of the widget.
- Step 3: Cut out the selected items
Measure and cut your chosen items to fit the surface. Using a ruler and a pencil.
- Step 4: Glue the items to the surface
After you have finished measuring and cutting the selected shapes, stick them on the wooden surface and apply an appropriate amount of glue to each element. You should start with the basic design elements, and then apply a medium layer of glue to the surface. Then let the project dry for 20-30 minutes.
- Step 5: Add a protective layer of glue
After it dries well, adds a protective layer of the appropriate glue to the project using a sponge or flat brush. Let it dry and then repeat the process again. And don't forget to let it dry before use.
Decoupage is a perfect example of the creative ability of human beings, especially soft hands, to transform ordinary simple things around us into pieces of art of exceptional character that definitely add joy to our home spaces.