Mastersheets

I have to admit: for the longest time, I shied away from black. It felt heavy, overpowering, and too final. But lately I’ve fallen in love with black, especially when paired with white.

In collage, mixed media projects, or art journaling, black becomes a compelling character—adding depth, contrast, and mystery to every layer. That’s why building a stash of black and white collage papers for mixed media art journaling is essential for any creative arsenal.

In this post, I’ll show you how to create your own black papers—from smooth, velvety sheets to textured, layered wonders. Use these backgrounds or print-and-mark techniques as foundations for your next journal spread, collage panel, or mixed media masterpiece.

Collage mastersheets are your ticket to fearless experimentation—big, bold surfaces where you can layer scraps, papers, paints, and marks without worrying about “ruining” a precious canvas. It’s like a playground for your creativity – they let you experiment with images, color and texture in a low-stakes way.

In this post, I’m sharing 12 different types of collage master sheets I’ve developed through my own mixed media practice. Each one explores a different approach—whether it’s blending edges with gesso, creating patchwork grids, playing with translucent layers, or mixing unexpected materials. Some techniques are fast and intuitive, others slow and meditative, but all of them are rooted in freedom, exploration, and texture.

The beauty of collage master sheets lies in their versatility. You can use them as backgrounds for journals or paintings, cut them up into snippet rolls or tags, or even turn them into standalone abstract pieces. Most importantly, they help you loosen up and enjoy the process—because the process is where the magic happens.

Abstract Mark Making Play – Colors & Expression is an exploration of how color can carry emotion, movement, and meaning without needing representation. By working with one main color and gradually shifting its value, intensity, and interaction with other materials, the page evolves into a layered conversation rather than a planned composition. This practice is

Abstract Mark Making Play – Textures is an exploration of surface, resistance, and depth. Rather than focusing on flow or movement, this practice invites you to slow down and engage with the physicality of materials—paper, paste, fabric, paint, and tools—layered one over another.

Abstract Mark Making Play is an exploration of fluidity, unpredictability, and response. Rather than building layers through intention or planning, this approach invites you to follow the natural behaviour of water, ink, and paint as they interact on the surface.

From the very first step, water leads the way.

This practice is especially powerful when you feel stuck, over-directed, or disconnected from your intuition.

There is no pressure to resolve the painting quickly or neatly. The focus is on staying present, allowing messiness, and letting flow guide the work forward.

This process is not about creating a finished painting.
It’s about staying with the act of making—layer by layer—without rushing toward a result.

Abstract Markmaking Play Layers is an intuitive painting practice where each layer is an invitation rather than a decision. There is no fixed outcome in mind. The painting evolves through observation, play, and trust.

Inky master sheets are an incredible way to explore your emotions and creativity through the fluidity of inks, watercolors, and mark-making. Inspired by the techniques I learned from Robin Marie, I’ve added my personal interpretations and emotional depth to this process.

This guide will take you through a series of steps to create a layered inky master sheet that can serve as the foundation for your art journaling or mixed media projects. Each step is designed to be flexible, allowing you to rearrange and adapt them as your intuition guides you. Let’s embark on a creative journey where every mark and every layer carries its own emotional weight and significance.