collage integration
I had been asked to put together a tutorial for integrating collage into a book or journal.
Understanding why you are adding collage to your page will help direct the type of papers being used along with when you would add certain paper types, such as deli paper or a sewing pattern paper for example.
One of the first questions I have to ask is what is the purpose of the collage?
Is the intent to just really add collage? Are you just using your papers as the focus or focal point, or main intent of the page?
Adding texture to the page? Is the collage may be part of an under painting or under work in the art journal?
Or a combo of the both items listed above? This leads to my next question below.
And this question to ask is, what type of papers and/ or images are you using?
The reason i ask is that sometimes, what the paper is (music, maps) or the images on the paper themselves being used, can come across as “strong” and pull your eye to the images. The imagery becomes the focal point, stealing the focus of the page and actually detract from the rest of your art journal page. The paper (and/ or imagery) being used can steal the focus due to lines, busyness, contract, color or image.
I have created a cheat sheet to print off and hang in your studio or keep with your collage papers to use as a reminder.
I have a few picture examples using some of the techniques mentioned on the cheat sheet. I talk about the technique with the arrow sewing paper. That was a nice reminder of “do what I say, and not what i do.” I added paint onto the sewing paper- when I should have left that edge alone. I put those pictures together to show you at the end, I did scrub off more of the paint than what I wiped off during the video. So that last pic to the right in the middle row shows the end results- which I am much happier with. (insert eye roll here)…. but you have to do to know what you like or don’t like and perfect example. If you are wondering what I used to remove the white acrylic paint- I squirted a little alcohol and used a clean tissue to remove the extra paint. Even once dried.
I do think sometimes being able to watch and see how techniques work can also be helpful. So I am including the video below for demonstration purposes and to help show how I use the techniques when I am doing collage. Please let me know if you have questions or if you have suggestions for other tutorials you would like to see.
Thank you again for being here.
xo. kristin