Using an Art Print, or Poster, as a Foundation for Your Replica Painting
If
you appreciate and enjoy the works of great artists, then you may
prefer more than just a two-dimensional art print encapsulated behind
reflective glass.
An
art print does however convey the detail, clarity and colour accuracy
of the original oil painting. Thanks to today's advanced photographic
printing techniques, the humble art print has become an important
ingredient toward creating convincing replicas of an original paintings.
With
the aid of an art print, the fundamental steps in creating a replica
painting are:
 Separation of
the image from the art print.
Embedding the image into artists canvas.
Add careful brushwork, where applicable.
Add ageing effects, where applicable.
Apply ultraviolet varnish protection.
Typical
Canvas Transfer Techniques
For
over thirty years, a variety of techniques have been used to produce
canvas transfers, canvas prints and canvas replicas using art
prints, posters and artists canvas. These techniques are often shrouded
in mystery, but as always, the challenges are the same, namely:
How to successfully remove the thin delicate image from an art print
intact.
How to successfully embed the image into artists canvas.
Before
the image is removed from its backing paper, it is often strengthened
by applying a plastic laminate, or the image is sprayed, or coated
with a thick plastic layer. These coatings are used to help detach
the image from the backing paper and to assist handling and embedding
the image onto canvas. Such processes add an unnecessary plastic
layer, through which light must pass, causing loss of colour and
definition from the image beneath. They degrade the image and
do nothing to add to the beauty or feeling of the original. The
resulting canvas transfer, or painting reproduction, can look
"plasticy", cloudy, artificial or unconvincing.
A
further disadvantage with commercially produced canvas prints
and and canvas replicas is that a heat press, or vacuum press
is often used to embed the image into the canvas. The canvas texture
is even all over, which is not always what would be expected from
an original painting.
Another replica painting technique, is to print directly onto canvas. The resulting replica can look artificial and unconvincing since the ink layer is not only even all over, but has the same thickness in the peaks and troughs of the canvas texture. Real paint tends to be thicker in the troughs and thinner on the peaks resulting in a type of depth expected of original paintings.
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Detail
of Image after embedding into canvas
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Novel
Canvas Transfer Technique
The
Secrets of Faking It
reveals a novel technique for separating the image from an art
print, and for transferring and integrating it onto artists canvas.
During this step, nothing is added to the image - so you won't need any special equipment or chemicals.
After the thin delicate image has been separated from its backing paper, you'll never have to worry about tearing, or damaging it since you'll never have to touch the image until it's safely attached to the canvas.
The simple process enables the image to flow into the canvas, just like paint, allowing you to easily vary the amount of canvas texture, as required.
After
the image has been embedded into the canvas, you'll be touching
pure pigment to assure the highest possible clarity of colour
and definition. The canvas weave will show through the image just
like paint on canvas.
After
this first step, the canvas will take on a presence and have the
look and feel of an original painting. If brushwork and ageing
effects are not required, your canvas replica can be completed
with a couple of coats of ultraviolet varnish protection.
Enhanced
Canvas Transfer Techniques
After
the image has been bonded, or impressed into the canvas, the resulting
canvas transfer becomes a foundation upon which brushwork and
/ or ageing effects can be added. The
Secrets
of Faking It
will show you how to easily replicate these features convincingly
and to the finest detail.
Adding
Brushwork
Brushwork
is added to the image using a transparent 'paint'. This is the
same as artist's paint, but without the pigment. Colour
from the image is seen from the surface of the brushwork, just
like artists paint. The
brushwork technique, mediums and brushes used and source of supply is fully
explained in the manual.
Reflected
light brings into play the three dimensional contours of brushstrokes,
their peaks, highlights and shadows. The canvas becomes dynamic
as the picture is viewed from different perspectives. The picture
now comes to life with the look and feel of an original painting.
Bold
Brushwork
Where
appropriate to the original painting, bold raised brushstrokes
add an extra dimension of realism that is obvious at a distance.
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Detail
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Example
- Bold Brushwork
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Fine
Brushwork
Fine brushwork is used when the brushstroke width is barely perceptible
and especially for very fine detail work. Knowing how to achieve
fine brushwork is mandatory for many old masters, and to maintain
integrity under close examination. Unfortunately, many commercially
produced painting reproductions and canvas replicas will not stand
up to close scrutiny since the detail is simply not there... and
the devil lies in the detail.
You
will discover how to replicate the finest detailed brushstrokes
for such items as blades of grass, the tracery of branches, ropes,
rigging, hair etc. Fine brushwork can also be effective at elevating
an otherwise flat canvas.
Ageing
Effects (optional)
Unlike
a modern or newly restored painting, some old master paintings
will tend to have gathered a patina of age over the course of
time. Other old paintings may show a network of random hairline
cracks in some areas of the paint surface. The Secrets
of Faking It
explains how to achieve these, and other, ageing effects that
can convey a high degree of authenticity.
Hairline
Cracks
Varnishing
Varnishing is a final step in creating a canvas replica. Using
the correct artists varnish will tend to brighten the colours
and enhance the brushwork with a transparent depth and richness.
Varnish
protects the brushwork and image from dust and grime. It also
adds ultra violet light protection to prevent fading. Since the
picture is protected with varnish, it can be displayed without
glass, in the traditional manner of an original oil painting.
Materials
Quality and Stability
The
techniques and materials recommend in the
Secrets
of Faking It
have been used for creating canvas replicas and reproduction paintings
that have proven to be robust and stable over many years. Sample
reproductions have been tested under extremes of temperature,
and humidity without any degradation.
All
materials used are very compatible with each other creating strong,
yet flexible bonds. This is important if you intend stretching
a completed canvas transfer in preparation for picture framing
or, if you intend Selling
Your Work by post. In this case, the canvas is usually
rolled and shipped in a postal tube and the customer arranges
to have their canvas stretched and framed.
A
Complete Manual
Secrets
of Faking It
is a complete manual that will
show you everything you need to know for producing top class canvas
transfers, enhanced canvas transfers, canvas replicas, replica
oil paintings and framed reproduction paintings. You'll find step-by-step
instructions, hint and tips, illustrated examples to help you,
materials and suppliers list, replication secrets, and information
that is not available elsewhere.
How
to Stretch Canvas
When
your canvas is completed, you may want to have it stretched over
wooden stretcher bars, or you can discover how to stretch your
own canvas.
Stretching
canvas is a knack that can be quickly learned with the
Secrets
of Faking It.
You'll find step-by-step instructions and illustrations every
step of the way, as well as hints and tips to make the job easier.
After
your canvas has been stretched, it will be ready for framing,
or you can display it without a frame, known as museum wrap.
If
you plan to create a number of replica paintings, then you will
certainly save by stretching your own canvas. You'll also acquire
a further skill that you can offer to your customers.
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Stretched
Canvas
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Screen shot: Canvas
stretching instructions
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How
to Make Picture Frames
Like
stretching canvas, picture framing is a skill that is well worth
learning, especially if you plan to create a number of replica
paintings.
The
manual provides step-by-step instructions and illustrations, every
step of the way and
explains, how to cut accurate mitre joints and moulding lengths,
through to assembling the frame, fitting the stretched canvas
and adding frame attachments.
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Completed
Picture Frame
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Screen shot: Picture
framing instructions
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How
to make Your Own Picture Name Plates
To
complete the picture, you will even discover how to make professional
looking picture nameplates using your black and white printer
and readily available materials. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to transfer printed lettering to materials such as brass, plastic and wood.
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Make
your own picture name plates
(Printed lettering on brass)
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Using
new techniques and simple tools, The
Secrets
of Faking It
will show you how to easily create replica paintings that look
just like originals. You'll find illustrated step-by-step instructions and lots of hints and tips to help assure your success. If you're serious about wanting to create
high grade replica paintings, then this best-selling manual is for you.
The manual comes with a full 8 weeks, no-questions-asked, 100% money-back guarantee - so you have nothing to lose.
The Secrets of Faking It is available as a PC and Mac compatible eBook that can be quickly delivered to your computer. You're allowed to make a copy for your laptop, providing it is for your personal use only, and you can easily print out a hard copy of the book for yourself.
"Anyone can make
the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple."
– Charles Mingus
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