How to Use Image Transfers in Your Art: Two Courses to Take Your Mixed Media Practice Further

If you have been curious about my online courses but are not sure which one is the right fit for you, this post is here to help. I currently offer two online collage courses, each with its own focus, pace, and creative possibilities. Both are rooted in techniques I have tried, tested, and refined myself – and both celebrate the beautiful unpredictability that makes mixed media art so exciting.

What is Image Transfer?

Image transfer is the process of moving a photographic image from its original paper or film onto a new surface – canvas, wooden panel, paper, or fabric – using a transfer medium or specialist materials. The results are never quite the same twice. The transfer process introduces a softness, a slight blurring at the edges, an unpredictability that gives the finished work a quality quite distinct from a straight print or photocopy. It is this beautiful imperfection that draws so many mixed media artists to the technique.

Creative Image Transfer: A Short, Focused Class

Creative Image Transfer is a short, self-paced online course designed to introduce you to the world of image transfers. With around 45 minutes of video content broken into clearly structured sections, it is ideal if you want to learn a new technique without committing to a longer programme of study.

In this class, I walk you through the process of using InkAid solution and transfer film – two materials that, once you get to know them, open up a whole new world of creative possibilities. You will learn how to transfer your images onto wooden panels, canvas, and paper, and how to incorporate the results into your artwork. It's a short course that will give you the basics you need to begin working with this exciting technique.

One of the things I am most excited to share is a technique I developed myself – one that combines graphite with the transfer process to create something truly unique. It is the kind of discovery that came out of play and experimentation, and it adds a beautiful, atmospheric quality to the finished work. You will not find this technique taught anywhere else.

This course is open now for enrolment – you can find full details and sign up on the image transfer course page.

Photographic Collage: Creating Veiled Images – A Deeper Dive

For those who are ready to go further, my Photographic Collage course – Creating Veiled Images – offers a much more comprehensive journey into the art of combining photography and painting to create evocative, layered works.

This course covers significantly more ground, taking you from the very beginning of the process right through to the finished piece. Here is a taste of what is included:

Photography Basics and Editing. You do not need to be an experienced photographer. I include a section on simple photography techniques and image editing so you have full creative control over your source material from the very start.

Papers, Materials, and Printing. Knowing which papers and materials to use – and how to get your images printed onto specialist paper – is one of the most common stumbling blocks. I cover this in detail so the process feels straightforward rather than daunting.

Combining Photography with Painting. The real heart of this course is learning how to layer your photographic collage imagery with paint to create what I call veiled images – dreamlike works with a painterly softness. There is something genuinely magical about the way photography and paint can coexist on the same surface.

This course opens in September 2026. You can join the waitlist here. For further reading on how I use photography in my practice, you might enjoy my post How I Use Photography in My Art.

So, Which Course is Right for You?

Here is a simple way to think about it:

Choose Creative Image Transfer if you:

• Want to learn the image transfer technique for the first time

• Prefer a shorter, more focused class format

• Want to discover a unique graphite and transfer technique you will not find taught anywhere else

• Are a beginner or practising artist looking to add a new element to your work

Choose Photographic Collage: Creating Veiled Images if you:

• Want a deeper, more comprehensive course experience

• Are interested in combining your own photography with painting

• Would like guidance on materials, paper, printing, and image editing as well as transfer technique

• Are ready to explore a layered, collage-led approach to mixed media art

Ready to Explore?

Both courses are built on techniques I have developed and refined through years of practice. They are designed to be accessible, and both leave plenty of room for you to find your own creative voice – because that is where the magic really happens.

If you would like to read more about the photographic collage technique before committing, my post Photographic Collage Techniques: An Artist's Guide to Image Transfer is a good place to start. And if you have any questions about which course might suit you best, please do get in touch – I would love to help.

View all courses and find the right fit for where you are in your practice.