Textured Paper

From the original at The Big Green Idea.

Shredded paper/paint mixture

When I was looking for something to create a vegetation effect on my 3D papier mache artwork, I found the textured plaster I was using tended to dry too flat, unless I kept playing with it until it had totally dried.

I have a cross-cut shredding machine, and thought it worth experimenting to see what would happen if I mixed the shredded paper into emulsion paint.

To make the mixture you will need a lidded container about twice the volume of the paint you are using. I use old paint pots, so a 7-10 litre pot works well with 5 litres of paint.

1. Pour the paint into the container.
2. Take the shredded paper and place a handful into the paint (it does not matter what type: mine often has bits of shredded plastic from window envelopes).
3. Stir with an old wooden spoon or sturdy stick (it needs to be strong!) and add more paper until you think it not possible to add more.
4. Put the lid on the pot, and leave.
5. After a few days re-check the pot of what I refer to as gunge, and you will probably find that you can add more paper. This might not be necessary, but if the mixture is too thin, then it could slip off the surface you apply it onto. The thicker the gunge, the better the mix and the more paper you are recycling for the used quantity of paint. Ideally I would use up oddments of leftover paint, but don't normally have any available. Eco-friendly paint would be preferable.
6. Once the gunge has reached a usable stage, spread some out on the surface you want to cover, using an old knife or other applicator. If this is all you want to do then put it Mixes to one side to dry.
7. I like to add colour at this stage to build up layers of different semi- mixed coloured effects. I use acrylic paint as well as emulsion, but to be really green, try to use eco-friendly paints or dyes.

Left in a sealed pot the gunge seems to keep OK, and does not seem to go off. Be careful about mixing different types of paint ( for example emulsion and acrylic) as I have found there is some type of chemical reaction, which can create a nasty-smelling substance. This is not a problem if you are allowing the paint to dry, but storing mixed paint is not recommended (I had found an ideal colour combination before I discovered the adverse result of mixing different paints, so now tend only to make my colour mixes just before I want to use them).

The gunge can be used to cover all sorts of surfaces. I originally used it as part of my artwork, but have since used it to cover old cardboard food containers/pots for a textured effect.