Finding New Life in Old Papers: 5 Essential Materials for Your Collage Art
We’ve established, I think, that the world is full of old papers ready to become new art. But before you run out and collect all the papers, let’s chat.
The type of papers you choose will impact each stage of the process. Here are a few examples:
If the papers have lots of text, they’ll take over the piece, so I’ll cover up the words with paint
Thin papers will wrinkle and tear, which will either frustrate you or add texture and interest
The papers you think are most beautiful- save them for the end or be ready to cover them up as the composition develops
Have more than one adhesive on hand- I use matte medium, but also heavy gel medium for thick papers
Does the book fabric have threads? Will you leave them or work them into the composition?
Ledger papers with handwriting will sometimes have ink that smears, so test it first (I’m thinking of you, green ink pen)
Layering papers and fabric will impact the piece because you’ll be able to see the lines from the piece below. Use this to your advantage and make it part of the composition
You’re creating a second life for the vintage papers, so make the piece as much about the papers as it is about the composition
I could go on…
Based on all of this, I’m sharing my top five papers for collage:
Blank pages from Large Hardcover Books
These are hard to find, but using super large wooden type means I’m always looking for large sheets of paper. I especially like finding an unopened (or uncut) book, which will provide massive sheets of paper. My heart jumps with happiness when the pages are blank. I find these at library book sales and vintage shops.
Stamp Albums
The paper in stamp albums is very thin, which makes it perfect for layering. The pages can have grids, borders, corner art, and great typography. Some of them are even printed only on one side. My problem is that some of these albums are already works of art, so now I have a collection of stamp albums I can’t use. Some of these have stamps, so I have my favorite stamp collector (my dad), take a look and remove the good ones. The remaining stamps can be added to collages or you can start your own collection. These can be found at estate sales and online.
Ephemera
This is a large category that includes canceled checks, pharmacy labels, train tickets, letters and envelopes, receipts, and odd pieces used as bookmarks and left behind. You never knew where or when you’ll find them, and that’s part of the fun.
Ledger Books
Once, I was shopping at a used bookstore when I came across three small ledgers from a Connecticut farmer. The handwriting, the ink splots, the discolored paper, the dates…I was hooked. Etsy is a good place to start looking.
Maps and Blueprints
Not only are these often very large, but they add lines and letters to a collage. I created the Atlas collection using pages from an atlas. These are found at estate sales and online book sellers.
Sourcing materials is a much fun as using them. I should say collecting, since my bookcases are full of vintage treasures that are too beautiful to use. Don’t spend lots of money on papers and books because there are always materials that will be freely given to you, or sold at a low cost, once you start looking.