Collage artists tend to act like squirrels, gathering materials and caching them away for their artwork. Precious materials need to be kept away from collage artists like myself who are known to cut up anything. In my collages, I love to use plain coloured papers sourced from art supply stores but have been known to use; gift wrap, playing cards, photographs, napkins, brochures, magazines, tape, playing cards, paint chips, doilies, collector cards, stamps, maps, tissue paper, newspaper, old books, passports, ticket stubs, recipe cards and letters. Basically, if I can find a way to cut and adhere it, it is fair game to be used as art material. You may have seen me out in the local thrift shops, at the library book sale or walking down the street with my head down looking for sidewalk treasures. Sourcing art materials is a continuous activity for me.
Nebula, 2019 (24 x 30 inches) $250 Framed
Collage can be created with white glue, paste, glue sticks, or acrylic gel mediums. Scissors, exacto knives and cutting mats, paper cutters, hole puncher or fingers are used to rip and cut paper. The list of alternative methods for adhering materials is as long as your imagination; staples, embroidery floss, thread, tape, image transfer and wire to name a few. There is also a wide range of options for the backing material with the choice of backing material needing to support the materials and methods I want to use. I have created collages on plywood, a heavy backing which allows me to sand down my work afterwards. I have worked on canvas which allows me to paint the background.
In this collage, I cut circles from an old book and created spiral patterns on them with my sewing machine. The work was created on a piece of masonite giving it a lovely honey coloured background but being strong enough to support its’ size.
