This week I got the chance to learn something new (a solvent image transfer) and hang out with some creative folks. Win-win!
As you know, I’m a big fan of communing with other people who love the same things I do — namely art! So when a new meetup group (meetup is a website that allows you to find other people with the same interests for in-person meetups) flashed into my inbox called “The Manhattan Mixers,” I had to give it a try!
About the Meetup
The organizer is named Rosie.
She’s a lovely artist from Arizona, currently living in NYC. Including Rosie, there were five of us at the first meetup this past weekend. It’s a small art world in NYC and I was delighted to discover that I actually knew the other three artists in the group – Eileen, Pat, and Brigitte!
In no time at all we were chatting and making art.
What I Learned
Rosie shared an easy image transfer technique using a Xylene pen. I used an image of skeleton hands with writing and the transfer is pretty amazingly clean.
How to Do a Xylene (Solvent) Image Transfer
If you want to try this technique, you can watch this tutorial video from my friend, Andrea:
Step 1: Prepare the image and surface
- Print your image on a laser printer or use a photocopy. The toner is what transfers.
- Tape the printed image face down onto the surface you want to transfer it to. Securely tape down the edges.
Step 2: Apply the solvent and burnish
- Use the xylene blender pen to apply the solvent to the back of the taped-down image.
- Saturate the paper completely, ensuring it is wet, and apply firm, steady pressure with a bone folder or spoon to burnish the solvent-soaked image. This transfers the ink from the print to your surface.
- Tip: Work in small sections if transferring a large image.
Step 3: Check the transfer and repeat if necessary
- Carefully lift a corner of the paper to check the transfer progress, making sure not to move the image from its position.
- If the image is not dark or solid enough, re-apply the solvent with the pen and continue burnishing that section.
Step 4: Finish the transfer
- Once the image has been fully transferred, carefully peel off the paper and tape.
- Let the transferred image dry completely before further embellishment or use.
- Safety Note: Xylene fumes can be toxic, so work in a well-ventilated area.
In Conclusion
We talked and made art and had a generally good time! I was fascinated that although we were working in a very public venue, not a single person came over to see what we were doing. I guess that’s disinterested New Yorkers for you!
After the meetup I was so inspired that I came home and sat down and played in my art journal for several hours. I just couldn’t walk away. How awesome is that?
Have you ever been to an art journal meetup? I highly recommend it!
Here is this week’s linky list:
Thanks for stopping by!
P.S. Learn all about other kinds of image transfers HERE.
I’ve been trying to find an art journaling meetup group convenient to my location (I live in Connecticut – New Haven area). There seems to be a lot of them in the NYC area but that’s just a bit too far. I should probably just try to start one myself but I’m not really an organizer.
what a great idea!
Julie Kovac we have a mixed media meet up group right in Westbrook Ct at the Awesome Papercraft Clubhouse. Traci Larson is the owner and her and her staff are fantastic. We meet once a month on Thursdays from 6:30-9:00 and we’d love to have you join us.
The Papercraft Clubhouse in Westbrook Ct is a n awesome scrapbook store, but Traci really caters to the Art Journalers and mixed media artists too. Most recently Dina Wakley visited the store and Wndy Vecchi is coming this month.
we would Love Love Love for Juile to pay us a visit….hint hint lol!
Here us the phone number to the store 860-399-4443. Hope to see you at our next mixed media meet up!.
We have a new artist meet up here in Fayetteville, NC. We met once a couple weeks ago at a coffee shop with just a few folks and will meet again next week … hopefully the group will grow! So far we have an illustrator/art teacher, an art journaler/mixed media, a tatter, and a glass blower. How about that for some diverse conversation!?
Love that transfer technique!
Julie, I Know how awesome it is to have a group like this. The Papercraft Clubhouse in Westbrook CT hosts a mixed media meetup once a month and it is awesome.
Traci Larson has a great store and she has managed to create a venue that Marrys scrapbooking and mixed media beautifully.
We would love to see you pay us at visit , I know it would be a sell out! Been a huge fan of yours for a long time. My very good friend Gwen Lafleur , and my muse was who really got me started on the mixed media train. And you were the first artist she introduced me to.
Unfortunately she recently moved to Chicago for work, we keep in touch and recently she was asked to join the Stencil Girl creative team and she has a great. Blog too.
Keep inspiring us Julie! Hope to see you in CT soon 🙂
It was so nice seeing you at the meetup. I feel exactly the same about spending time with like minded people. I remember at the very first workshop I ever took with Lynne Perrella, she spoke about the importance of “finding your tribe.” That really stuck with me. It was most refreshing to be in a meetup where the organizer was not attempting to promote anything but the building of community. Hope to see you at the next one!
Thanks for the tip for using meetup for an arty get together.
I have never been to a meet-up but it sounds like fun since I LOVE to create and chat at the same time. That’s why Carol’s crops in Somerville are so much fun for me. BTW, I would have stopped to ask what you ladies where doing (but that’s just me).
I had to smile when I read your comment, “It’s a small art world in NYC”. I live on the Northwest Coast of Canada and I only know a very few people in NYC …. and Eileen and Pat are two of them! Ha! Ha! I think for me, it’s a very small art WORLD!
It’s always surprising to me, when I’m arting in a public place, how few people come over to see what’s going on – is it shyness or disinterest? I ALWAYS approach and talk to artists when I see them working, and have always felt that my interest in their work is very welcome. Maybe we, as artists, just need to get the word out that we enjoy the interaction!
Be careful with Xylene! It is great for transfers, but not so wonderful in the lungs! Using it in the pen is the best way, though!
Love mixing with other artists–it’s always inspiring!
Julie–Love watching you be creative on Scrapbook Soup! I’m wondering if there is any way to get information about the actual products/equipment used on your show. I would like to buy some pens and a paper trimmer for my artistic daughter and thought I’d try to buy what you all use on the show but there’s no way to really see what you are using close up. Any ideas? Thanks, Karen
What a small world… how fun to see the familiar faces!
Hi Anne Lou and Julie. I am fascinated by that transfer technique and had a look at the blog. Could you use a Copic colourless blender or any other brand of colourless blender?
I’ve been searching for such a meetup in south NJ – but no luck so far. I really get inspired in a group setting and have way more fun that way. Maybe one day I’ll find one down here!
Do you still meet? I live in Fayetteville!