Stamp Transfer Painting Technique

Stamp transfer s a very useful technique to use in those cases that there is something really difficult to draw.

Imagine you want to paint a canvas with a street full of buildings, but you have really difficulties with perspective. Or imagine you need to paint a portrait, but you cannot draw the face! But if the drawing is not really like the person you are drawing, no one will recognize him…

Here is a solution! This technique uses a picture, and transfers the ink in that picture to the new surface you want to paint, which can be a canvas, a piece of wood, a box, a piece of paper, metal, etc. It is pretty simple.

I did an example, as you can see in the pictures, so that it is easier to follow. It is an arrow that I did to indicate a path to a Fountain. My goal was to write the letters with a beautiful pre-chosen font. Hope you like it.

You will need the following material:

• The surface in which you want to paint the final painting: I used a piece of wood.
• A picture of what you want to draw: it can be a simple black and white copy of the image itself. Note that this technique will transfer the ink in this paper to the new surface. So, if it is a photo it will not result, as it has a layer of plastic to protect the photo, and this will not allow the ink to be transferred to the new surface. So, use a basic black and white copy of the picture you want. There is no problem with being black and white, given you’ll paint it later. Also remember to print that copy as a mirror because when you transfer it it will be as a mirror, so, in order for it to be right, you’ll need to print it as a mirror before. Look at my photos: in my example I needed to transfer a small text, so I printed the letters as a mirror (see Figure 1).
• An acrylic transparent gel: this is the medium that will transfer the ink from the paper to the new surface.
• A roller (optional): to help you to force the ink to transfer to the new surface.

It is important that the new surface, where you are transferring the ink, is plan and clean. I used a piece of wood so I prepared it first, by painting it with a white universal base, which can be bought in any store that sells paints (see Figure 2).

Now that all the material is prepared, do the following:

1. apply the medium transparent gel in the paper: I’ve put lots of gel above my letters (see Figure 3).
2. spread the gel uniformly over your drawing (see Figure 4).
3. turn the paper and apply it in the area you want the drawing to be: I’ve placed it in the middle of my piece of wood
4. with the roller, or with your fingers, press the paper so that the gel is in contact with the surface (see Figures 5 and 6). This phase is critic, because if you do too much friction while the paper is too wet, the paper will start degrading. However, if you let the gel dry, it will work as glue, and the paper will be stuck to the wood! See what happened to me in Figure 7! I didn’t put enough gel in this part of the drawing, and it got stuck! Then, to remove the paper it was a mess (see Figure 8)!
5. start removing the paper: if the gel is in the right proportions, and wet enough (but not too much :D), the paper will come off and leave the ink in the new surface. See Figure 9 :)

My final result was not as pretty as I wanted. However, this was just a simple experience to start with this method. As you can see in Figure 10, I got really good parts, where the ink transferred completely. The trick is really not to let the gel dry! With experience it becomes easy to do :)

Remember that this transfer is just to be used as a base for your drawing. So, after this, you can complete (perfection!) the drawing and start painting what you wanted. See in Figure 11 my final result :)

Some people like to use this technique as part of the artistic process of “painting”. It can be used mixed with other materials, and allows to use pieces of pictures and images in the canvas or wood, together with mediums, acrylics, oils, paper, etc etc etc, becoming the so called mixed technique. Just use your imagination.

This technique is very useful for people who have some specific difficulties in particular types of drawing. Faces and perspective are usually the most feared so, if you fear them, go ahead, and try this technique. This works like a stamp, and can be applied in any surface.