How to Create a Mock Leather Effect

My most recent book at the time of this posting is Creating Decorative Papers (available from Stackpole Books or Amazon.com, amongst others). There are two different methods in the book regarding faux leather. One of them is pictured here, and it's really easy!

You can use this 

distressed leather effect 

on a book cover,

 in a collage or collage/painting, 

even on your walls or wood furniture!

Painting with a Roller, Part II

The first example is similar to one shown in my last post, done with a hard rubber printmaking brayer (or a foam roller). Remember, you can curve or zig-zag as you roll on the ink or paint.

The next photograph, below, demonstrates the use of a cheap foam roller to which I took a pair of scissors! Just cut out gouges here and there in the foam, at random or symmetrically. Then ink up the roller evenly on a pane of glass or on a flat sheet of metal, plexi, or china. Use block printing ink, acrylic paint...even tempera will work (but it won't be permanent).

Here, I allowed each color to dry before proceeding with the next, but how about THIS for an idea: Ink your roller with two different colors, one on each side, and roll them simultaneously? Choose colors that work well together.

What an easy way to create decorative papers!