How to Make a Grunge Effect With Watercolor Paint

Grunge art uses a primed surface overlaid by torn materials.

Grunge art seizes its inspiration from edgy, punk/heavy metal music, torn-up paraphernalia, or even worn-out jeans. Grunge effects utilize everyday materials like ripped-up magazines or cut-up calendars to produce a distressed, messy, scratched-out surface. Watercolor paint renders the color over the grunge effects. These transparent colors seep through the sanded edges to produce unusual patterns, creating either continued journal pages to write on or a full-blown, finished painting.

Things You'll Need

• Journal paper or canvas
• Gesso
• Acrylic paints
• Magazines or calendars with heavy, glossy, shiny pages
• Large craft paintbrush
• Container of clean water
• White glue
• Sanding sponge or sandpaper
• Watercolor paints

Instructions

1. Select either journal paper or canvas in any size to provide a durable base. Apply a covering of gesso, a white surface primer, to your foundation. Overlay the gesso with a coating of acrylic paint, a fast-drying, thicker paint, in any color. Allow drying time between layers.

2. 

   The shredded paper provides the textural feel for a grunge effect.

   Spread a generous coat of white glue all over the acrylic layer. Tear up pieces of heavy magazine or calendar paper with unique images and stick them into the glue. Go over the fragments with a large craft brush dipped into clean water, pushing the paper into the glue. Allow to dry completely.

3. Use a sanding sponge, fine or medium grit, or sandpaper to rough up the cut-up pieces. Apply more water to soften the paper and start rubbing it off in the middle, causing it to peel. You can peel off as much or as little as you want.

4. 

   Watercolor paint renders a light, flowing abstract style.

   Administer another layer of gesso and apply your watercolor paint over the grunge effects. Watercolor paint as a medium flows and drains across the sanded, peeled-off collage, creating abstract patterns. Oils and acrylics are thicker and would not produce the lightness that watercolor does. Initiate another round of drying time. Incorporate the sanding sponge or sandpaper again if desired.

5. Wipe the dust off with a rag after sanding, to brighten the hues of the watercolor and bring them out. Sand, continue to paint, and air dry in intervals until you are satisfied with your completed art project.

Tips & Warnings

• Use strong, white PVA glue for your grunge project as it is water soluble and acid free.

• Optimal magazines for your grunge effect include "National Geographic," "Vogue" or any publication that contains heavy, shiny, glossy, photographic pages.

References

• The Art of Sally T, Imagine This; Sittin' Pretty - Grunge Art; Feb. 24, 2006
• YouTube; Art Journal Technique Grunge Background; Leslie Herger; Oct. 31, 2009