It’s a cold, rainy and gloomy weekend.
There’s not enough light to paint without artificial lighting, and my mood doesn’t encourage it anyway.
Deciding to do some sorting and cleaning, I’ve started going through my piles of magazines, assorted papers and books.
As things start to clear up a little, I’m drawn to the pile of discards. Lots of colorful scraps of paper, brilliantly colored glossy magazines and a few old but worthless illustrated books. Suddenly, a light bulb goes on, and I’m ready to start creating, regardless of the dark, depressing weather.
Collage For A Change Of Pace
Whatever your medium of choice, it’s always a good idea to change things up a bit. Try something that’s out of your comfort zone. I’m a representational, two-dimensional artist; collage is way out of my comfort zone.
However, I’m always intrigued by collage artists and enjoy exploring the intricacies of a well-done piece. Sort of like an ‘I Spy’ quilt my niece has, it’s fun to examine all the pieces-parts and find little surprises the artist may have included.
Getting Started With Your Own Collage
Here are a few great books that include both individual collage artist’s stories and instructions on techniques and tips. As always with art, these are merely jumping-off points. Take what you can from the authors and use your own creativity to take what you’ve read and seen and make it your own.
Mark Hearld’s Workbook
Mark Hearld’s Workbook By Simon Martin ISBN-10: 1858945860
This well-designed and visually striking book gives a lot of bang for the buck. It brings the reader into Mark Hearld’s studio, home and thought process. Mark delves into many art forms with a sense of enjoyment and exploration.
He’s worked his way from drawing and painting to printmaking, ceramics and collage. This book is guaranteed to inspire anyone who is stuck in a rut or is experiencing an artist’s block. A first-hand look into living visually.
New Creative Collage Techniques
New Creative Collage Techniques By Nita Leland ASIN: B005I5ELE8
This spiral bound book is not only a compendium of techniques and tips for collage art creation; it has 60 complete and detailed projects to get your juices flowing. New Creative Collage Techniques also has start-to-finish demonstrations to show you how to incorporate your newly acquired techniques into your own compositions
This book has an illustrated glossary of collage terms for the inexperienced and advice on photographing your collage for exhibit submissions and copyright information for advanced artists. Whether you’re a budding crafter or a professional artist, New Creative Collage Techniques has something for everyone.
Collage:
Danielle Krysa has brought together 30 contemporary collage artists for a book that’s fun to browse through, diverse and informative. The works range from intricate and detailed to spare, amusing or unexpected.
There’s also a brief biography of each artist, along with a piece that was created especially for this publication. This book is a visual inspiration of how an artist can transform the mundane detritus of our everyday lives into art that everyone can enjoy
Mixed-Media Collage:
Holly Harrison takes us into the studios and minds of five established mixed-media artists. Offering tips on working with alternative materials, they share how they find inspiration and talk about their take on creativity.
Included in this delightful book is a gallery of images that features over 40 newly-published collage creations, including detailed explanations of the pieces and the materials the artists used in their formation.
