Citrasolv Art: Melt National Geographic Ink Pages

Citrasolv concentrate “melts” the ink on National Geographic pages into swirly abstract color, which makes great backgrounds for collage, art journals and mixed media. This guide covers the supplies, the steps, safety notes and tips for getting pages that actually turn out.

The technique has been popular in the art journaling community for years. You spray Citrasolv concentrate (an orange-scented solvent cleaner) over the pages of a National Geographic magazine, let it sit until the ink softens and runs, then tear the pages out to dry. The results vary page by page, which is part of the fun. (It is about as addictive as making Gelli prints.)

National Geographic Citrasolv Technique

Level: easy, adult supervised. Time: about 30 minutes of hands-on work, plus drying. Best for ages 12+ with an adult handling the Citrasolv; younger kids can help afterward with the collage steps.

Supplies

National Geographic magazines. Different decades give different results; the author used 2011 issues, and issues from 2000 onward are commonly recommended. Tear off the cover and ad pages first if you can, since pages that are not glossy clay-coated paper often do not react.
Citrasolv concentrate. Buy the concentrate, not the ready-to-use spray cleaner, or it will not work. The author used almost an entire 8 oz bottle on one magazine, so buy a larger size if you want to do several.
A large casserole dish or tray to contain the mess.
Spray bottle. Use a plastic bottle labeled for chemicals, because strong citrus solvents can degrade some plastics.
A big roll of paper or flattened cardboard to dry the pages on, or clips and a laundry line.
Optional: spray fixative, gloves, and rubbing alcohol, textures, stencils, inks and gesso for finishing.

Safety First

Citrasolv is a natural-based solvent, but it is not harmless. The concentrate is mostly d-limonene (85 to 95 percent per the manufacturer’s safety data sheet), a flammable liquid that can irritate skin and eyes and may cause an allergic skin reaction.

Wear nitrile gloves and work in a well-ventilated space.
Keep it away from flames, heaters, candles and sparks while you spray and while the pages dry.
Keep kids and pets out of the room while you spray and while the pages are wet. Citrus oils such as d-limonene can poison cats, so keep cats away from the concentrate and the wet pages.
Do not pour leftovers down the drain or onto the ground. The safety data sheet lists it as very toxic to aquatic life. Check local household hazardous waste rules for disposal.
Store the bottle closed, upright and out of reach of children.

Directions

Set the magazine in the tray. Spray Citrasolv all over the pages while they are still intact.
Close the magazine and let it steep for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Check every few minutes until the ink looks runny.
Tear out each page and lay it flat to dry. They tear out easily.
Optional: spray the dry pages with fixative to set the ink.
Use them for art (see the ideas below).

So many of these turned out beautifully. Some pages did nothing, and some changed at different rates, so you can see a few recognizable images in some pages while others are pure abstract color.

Where to Find Old National Geographics

Check thrift stores, garage sales, eBay, libraries that sell discarded issues, and neighborhood message boards. A simple “looking for old National Geographics” post on a local board can turn up free stacks.

Where to Buy Citrasolv

Availability in stores varies, so many people order online. Amazon carries the concentrate, and the manufacturer lists 8 oz, 16 oz and 32 oz bottles of Citra Solv Concentrated Cleaner and Degreaser. A bigger bottle costs less per ounce, and any leftover works as a household cleaner, following the label directions.

What Is Citrasolv?

Citra Solv is a concentrated citrus-based cleaner and degreaser made mostly from d-limonene, a solvent from orange peel. Artists use it because it dissolves the ink printed on clay-coated glossy magazine paper.

Does Citrasolv Work on All Magazines?

No. It works best on glossy, clay-coated pages, which is why National Geographic issues from 2000 onward are popular. Vogue and the New York Times Magazine are reported to work too, but results vary by issue and page, so test a few pages first. Plain newsprint, matte paper and cover stock often do nothing.

What to Do With Your Citrasolv Magazine Pages

You can hang the pages as they are, or try these:

Collage with them.
Cut them into strips and weave them together.
Draw on them.
Paint over them, using the melty page as a background.
Use gesso over a stencil to get a matte white design that contrasts with the ink.
Make a handmade artist’s book and use the pages as covers.
Fold them into boxes or origami.
Sew pages together with embroidery thread for sculptural art.
Frame some with photos mounted on top as backgrounds.
Scan your favorites to use in digital art projects.

More Tips

Do a batch of plain test pages before you start experimenting.
Spray the dry pages with fixative if you will use them in collage or other artwork, so the ink does not smudge.
Lay out more drying space than you think you need. Flattened cardboard boxes work well.
Spray more pages than you need. Results depend on luck, so some will be great and some will not.
You do not have to spray the whole magazine. Try a few pages first. If you spray only the front half, the back half can soak up Citrasolv from the tray and give you different effects.
Experiment with timing. Too long is not always better, and pages can stick together. Pry them apart gently.
While pages are wet, you can stamp textures into the ink or move it around with tools.
If your pages come out too uniform and dark, repeat the process on a few pages or blot some ink off with a paper towel while it is wet.
If you like this technique, try an acrylic gel medium transfer project or acrylic paint skins.
If you cannot get Citrasolv where you live, some artists try odorless mineral spirits or turpentine. These are stronger solvents with their own hazards, so use only in a well-ventilated space with gloves, and test on one page.