How to Do Frottage With Paint
The art of frottage is all about texture. Developed by Max Ernst, this technique involves transferring texture from one surface to another by applying pressure. Brass rubbing is one form of frottage, but many textured surfaces and materials can be used. Ernst used the technique to help him imagine images within the emerging patterns and create abstract artworks from them. Another way to create frottage is to rub or press the texture into fresh paint. This method can be used to add texture to painted walls.
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Things You'll Need
- Heavily textured surface
- Thin paper
- Masking tape
- Thinned paint
- Sponge or wide brush
- Emulsion paint
- Clear glaze
- Water
- Bowl or bucket
- Roller
- Newspaper
Instructions
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Creating Artwork
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1
Place a sheet of paper on top of your chosen textured surface and press down gently all over to make good contact with the surface, taking care not to tear it. Secure with masking tape.
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2
Apply the paint by pressing and rubbing gently onto the paper with the sponge or brush. Use dragging or circular motions. The texture should start to come through as paint flows into the indentations and ridges of the surface below. Use one or more colors but have a different sponge or clean brush for each color. Allow one color to dry before applying another unless you are happy to allow it to run which also adds interest.
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3
Allow the paint to dry before lifting. if desired continue work on a flat surface highlighting the images and patterns you see. Use pastels, pencil or any medium you like.
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4
Experiment with different textures such as lace, coiled string or basket weave and with various application techniques and implements.
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5
Transfer a frottage painting to a heavier paper or canvas if desired by firmly pressing the freshly painted image onto it while still wet.
Decorating Walls
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Create a frottage directly onto a wall by pressing a roughly textured item into a freshly painted surface. Begin by painting the wall with the roller and allowing it to dry completely.
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7
Clean and dry the roller thoroughly.
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8
Mix a top coat using two parts paint, two parts glaze and one part water.
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9
Apply the top coat with the roller and press crumpled newspaper into it. Lift directly off to make a textured pattern. Work in sections to avoid the top coat drying out too quickly before you can apply texture. Repeat the process until the wall is covered. Although the texture should be random, try to keep the pattern regular.
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Tips & Warnings
Beads, shells and twigs are all examples of the endless sources of texture for frottage artwork. Rubbing the paper with a plain wax candle before painting pushes paint away from raised areas for a different effect.
When pressing texture into paint you can use crumpled polythene, rags or sponges. Anything that removes some of the top coat will work. Rubbing, scraping, rolling and pressing will all work.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
