Patterned paper comes in many forms and can add visual intrigue and interest to a painting. Whether you are using wallpaper or Chinese wrapping paper, you can find ways to incorporate patterned paper in everything from spray painted graffiti-style art to fine art watercolors. If you enjoy recycling or reusing, you may even be able to find ways to incorporate and use old packaging materials, cardboard boxes and more into your painting.
Try using wallpaper for stencil art. This is a good option for art students wanting a legal alternative to graffiti to practice their new found stenciling skills. Wallpaper comes in hundreds of patterns and textures and all kinds of thicknesses, which make it ideal for spray paint.
Cut wrapping or origami paper up to create a collaged background in a painting. You can glue it around the centerpiece, or use it on the entire canvas and paint over it. Use a thicker acrylic and avoid wet paints like acrylic washes or watercolors. Some oils may also have the oil absorbed into the surrounding paper.
Tear out magazine pages and alter the images. Try using paint pens to give the models hats or mustaches or to redecorate a room.
Recycle old paper products in new work. For example, you can use industrial blue prints to cover counter tops, then cover them with lacquer and paint them. Or use cereal boxes as cheap canvases by gessoing over the image if you don't like it or painting around them if you do. Art is limitless; use your imagination to find new ways to use paper in your art. All you really need to keep in mind is how strong or thick the paper is and choose an appropriate paint for it.
