Creating backgrounds can give you a head start on your art projects or even a cool printable to sell. There are many ways to make backgrounds. We’ll start our creativity with this badge program.
Steps
1. Base.
The heavier the items you intend to include in your background, the heavier your base will need to be. If you’re just looking to put random paint strokes down, a piece of heavy paper will suffice. If you intend to do a lot of decoupage to put down layers, a light wooden base won’t warp like paper will. Lastly, canvas is great for more 3d items. Keep this in mind as you start your creative journey.
2. Tools.
The tools you use might be actual crafting tools or even items you have lying around the house. For example, to apply paint, you can use a brush, sponge, credit card, comb, straw, cotton swabs, or bubble wrap. If you’re attaching something that’s very dimensional, you might want to rivet it . . . so you’d need a rivet gun.
Let’s start with the basics and collect the following items to get started.
- Brayer
- Craft knife and extra blades
- Mat or something to protect area beneath
- Paint brush(es)
- Paper punch(es)
- Pliers, jewelry
- Rubber stamp(s)
- Scissors
- Sponge(s)
- Stencil(s)
- Tweezers
3. Materials.
Start with acrylic paint and ink. You’ll want vintage papers and books that you can cut or tear apart. Drawing pencils, colored pencils, chalk or even crayons can all be materials to have on hand. Of course adhesives, depending on what items you want to attach. You notice this list is general. The colors you choose, the items to include . . . these are the materials you’ll work with. We’ll explore specifics below.
4. Techniques.
Using various art and craft techniques allows you to create your own unique background. This also gives you an excellent way to try things you normally wouldn’t. Find a few techniques you want to try and include them with your background materials.
5. Nature.
Nature is not perfect. Look at the irregular petals on a flower or the slight variances on tree leaves. You do not need to be perfect either. In fact, imperfection leads to interest. Do not keep working on your background until it is perfect. Work on it until it is something you like or that sparks your creativity.
Create
6. Copies.
Before we start, we need to make sure the pieces you work with are copies. If you use the original backgrounds you create in a piece of art, it’s only usable once. By making copies or even digitizing it, you’ll have it to use more than once.
At this point, you may want to check out the Enrichment Project badge program “Image Digitizer” which gives you specifics about creating digital versions to use so you don’t mess up your originals.
7. Stages.
One thing I do when I’m physically making backgrounds is to stop frequently and take a few photos. Then, I have the background at different stages of development. If I accidentally go “too far” or something doesn’t work, I have the previous version(s) to work with. As you create your background, take photos of your developing creation. How else might you use these images?
8. Paint.
Paint alone can create a background. Just the texture applying paint on different surfaces can give you a great variety of backgrounds. Add in the colors and you could just create backgrounds this way. Let’s experiment with a few unusual ones.
- Get marbles covered in acrylic paint and roll them over the paper.
- Blow watercolors with a straw.
- Spread thick acrylic with a credit card.
- Use a very dry brush for a new effect.
- Print with a handmade “brush” like pine branches
- “Stamp” with items you find around your house like the wheels of Matchbox cars or building blocks
Now that you’ve tried one or two, how else might you create a background with just paint?
9. Ink.
Ink moves differently from paint. It has a lighter touch. Try one or two of the following or an idea of your own.
- Direct to paper
- Doodling
- Dry emboss and stencil
- Splatter with a resist
- Stamp – rubber, found items, etc.
If you don’t like one of these, try your own.
10. Print.
Adding printed items to your background is another way to build up your background. Don’t just think printing on paper, though. Printing on acetate allows you to see through to what’s beneath. You can get letters you rub on so they don’t disturb other elements.
Now that we’ve mentioned a couple ways to incorporate print, let’s find it!
- Comics
- Magazines
- Quotes
- Printables
- Self-made sheets
- Vintage books, ads, newspapers, etc.
Before you cut into anything, create a copy or digital image so you always have it in your arsenal.
11. Ephemera.
Ephemera and memorabilia can make your background personal. It can also influence your color or theme choices. Check out the Enrichment Project badge program set “Ephemera” for more information on this background additive.
12. Crafted.
Have you ever made something and had no clue what to do with it when you were done? Adding it to your background is a possibility. Crocheted doilies or edgings, cool knit designs, cross stitch ornaments, hand embroidery, jewelry pieces . . . I’m sure you see where I’m heading with this. You can attach the actual crafted items or use an image of the item in your background. Look around your home for things you’ve made that might look cool in a physical background.
13. Recycled.
Recycled items can be used in crafts. You can also use them as tools or materials. An old fake credit card might be used to spread paint or gesso . . . or you could include it in your background assemblage. Broken jewelry parts can be used “as is” or you can disassemble them. You can use all of a recycled item or part of it. Look through background images to see what recycled items others have used for inspiration.
14. Special.
If you have a special piece you want to include in your background, but don’t want to damage it and making a copy is difficult, you have choices. You can lay it into your physical background but not actually attach it to the piece. You can scan or photograph it and add it to the scene digitally. How else might you include special items without losing your treasures to a background assembly?
Badge and Supplement Files
Member Level
- EP_Badge List_Background Maker_larajla — list of badge items
- EP_Badge Set_Background Maker_larajla — list of badge set and related badges
- EP_Supp_List_Background Maker_larajla — list of supplements for the badge
- SUPP_BPG_Background Maker_2in_12up_larajla — generic badge printable
- SUPP_Background Maker_Journal_larajla — badge journal
- SUPP_Background Maker_Planner_larajla — badge planner
Supplement Fun
- N/A
Sites to Explore
- gomakesomething.com/category/ht/background
- www.clothpaperscissors.com/blog/7-fast-mixed-media-art-techniques-for-backgrounds
- www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/technique-tuesdays-background-techniques
- kristalnorton.com/art-journaling-101-background-techniques
- blog.cloudnovel.net/2018/05/24/grandpas-quick-and-dirty-method-to-make-background-art-for-your-visual-novel
- www.studentartguide.com/articles/painting-media-process-technique
- www.pinterest.com/mbu66155/background-techniques
- lisasonora.com/paint-art-journal-page-backgrounds
- getmessyartjournal.com/create-5-easy-grunge-backgrounds-in-your-art-journal
- mixedmedia.club/a-simple-mixed-media-background
- www.createmixedmedia.com/make/creating-backgrounds-from-mixed-media-techniques-for-art-journaling
- myprintly.com/project/fun-background-word-art-craft
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here