Art Tools: Collage
November 24, 2006
I started collaging ferociously a few years ago during the most difficult time of my life. I felt that everything was crashing down around me and decided to work through all of the emotions I was experiencing through a collage journal. For a long time I worked on collages for an hour or two every single day. I still collage quite often. For me, it feels like the most adventurous form of creating – in collage, I feel the most free to go in the darkest and lightest places.
Collage Basics: Cut, paste, paint, draw, doodle, take pictures, paint over them, write words, smear chalk, pastel, charcoal and glitter. Let loose and go wild and remember there are no mistakes. I use a wild array of materials & supplies when I collage, including old photographs, decades-old magazines and books, yarn, string, Swarovski crystals, fabrics, envelopes, wire, beads, rubber stamps, stencils, paper dolls and the usual basics of scissors, pens, pencils, glue sticks, acrylic paints, glitter and specialty papers.
Anytime an image catches my eye I tear it out and add it to my collage files, and there are also times when I sit down with a pile of magazines and create collages from whatever I happen to find in that particular stack. You can also find all kinds of treasures at antique stores, flea markets and garage sales. Old greeting cards, photographs, postcards, books and magazines are great fun to work with.
Collaging is a fun, insightful and easy project that can be done on your own or with a group. There are no special skills, supplies or requirements to collage. All you basically need is a magazine, scissors, a glue stick and a blank piece of paper.
Resources & Inspiration:
Dick Blick Art Supplies
Flax Art & Design
The Paper Source
Paper Candy
Soolip
One Good Bumblebee
Collage is one of my favorite forms of expression too.
I love making collages as well. I just hardly make one…don’t know why not, but this post certainly inspires me to make one!
I started doing this last year…but since I’ve moved, I haven’t done it. Maybe b/c it is so messy and my roommate hates clutter. I need to figure out a better way…
i used to collage all the time. any time i had an issue come up i created a collage. then i kind of set it aside but lately, since i’ve discovered altered books/journals, i’ve been diving into it again.
Hey there,
Collage is also fun using old photographs..especially if they are damaged and have no other use. I always read your blog and thought you might really like to check out this greeting card company called uncooked that I just started working for. The cards are totally hilarious and I think you and your readers might also like them. You can check them out at http://www.uncookedland.com. Best! Phoebe
Hey there, I always read your blog and thought you might really like to check out this greeting card company called uncooked that I just started working for. The cards are totally hilarious and I think you and your readers might also like them. You can check them out at http://www.uncookedland.com. Best! Phoebe
i love collage too. its my most de-stressing, freeform creation.