Sometimes collage papers are those random little bits and pieces that come into being from cleaning your brayer, cleaning your paint brush, using up extra paint, etc. But sometimes you or I might sit down with the idea of creating some collage fodder.
When I'm in an intentional mood, I like to focus on creating a thoughtful palette of papers. What does this mean?
Instead of creating a pile of random multi-colored papers, I do my best to create (somewhat) monochromatic papers in a range of colors and values. Here are the papers I made during a recent collage-paper-making session (these were gelatin printed with foam stamps I made):
By creating these monochromatic-ish papers, I have a complete palette to work with when I begin to collage.
Not only is it a range of colors, but it's a range of values (the scraps are organized in a curve from lightest – bottom right – to darkest – top right).
Before I turn these papers into a collage I'll probably bring in a few additional colors/values that are missing from this palette.
If you don't want to create new collage papers, try taking a critical look at your existing collage papers. Do you have a range of colors and values to work with? Where are the holes? Once you find the holes, make the papers to fill them!
I hope you found this post useful. Thanks for stopping by!
I organize my stash of papers by the dominant color for this very reason! Plus I have a drawer for ones that are too multi-colored to categorize. When I’m looking at a piece and think “this needs some yellow” I can find it easily. And if the yellow drawer is getting low, then I have an excuse to get out the gelli plate and make more.
I organize my stash of papers by the dominant color for this very reason! Plus I have a drawer for ones that are too multi-colored to categorize. When I’m looking at a piece and think “this needs some yellow” I can find it easily. And if the yellow drawer is getting low, then I have an excuse to get out the gelli plate and make more.
I organize my stash of papers by the dominant color for this very reason! Plus I have a drawer for ones that are too multi-colored to categorize. When I’m looking at a piece and think “this needs some yellow” I can find it easily. And if the yellow drawer is getting low, then I have an excuse to get out the gelli plate and make more.
I organize my stash of papers by the dominant color for this very reason! Plus I have a drawer for ones that are too multi-colored to categorize. When I’m looking at a piece and think “this needs some yellow” I can find it easily. And if the yellow drawer is getting low, then I have an excuse to get out the gelli plate and make more.
I organize my stash of papers by the dominant color for this very reason! Plus I have a drawer for ones that are too multi-colored to categorize. When I’m looking at a piece and think “this needs some yellow” I can find it easily. And if the yellow drawer is getting low, then I have an excuse to get out the gelli plate and make more.
I organize my stash of papers by the dominant color for this very reason! Plus I have a drawer for ones that are too multi-colored to categorize. When I’m looking at a piece and think “this needs some yellow” I can find it easily. And if the yellow drawer is getting low, then I have an excuse to get out the gelli plate and make more.
I organize my stash of papers by the dominant color for this very reason! Plus I have a drawer for ones that are too multi-colored to categorize. When I’m looking at a piece and think “this needs some yellow” I can find it easily. And if the yellow drawer is getting low, then I have an excuse to get out the gelli plate and make more.
Great tip!
Great tip!
Great tip!
Great tip!
Great tip!
Great tip!
Great tip!
This reminds me of the wonderful collage work of Eric Carle. It’s how he creates his stash for the incredible collages he does — and he paints it all on tissue paper. No fancy x-acto knife for him, he cuts shapes with a single edged razor blade! You can see a bit of his work and studio at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYG1tLt5GCQ. Sadly, he died recently at 91 but his books and art will certainly live on. If anyone is interested in collage and hasn’t heard of his work (though I can’t imagine that) it’s worth checking out.
This reminds me of the wonderful collage work of Eric Carle. It’s how he creates his stash for the incredible collages he does — and he paints it all on tissue paper. No fancy x-acto knife for him, he cuts shapes with a single edged razor blade! You can see a bit of his work and studio at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYG1tLt5GCQ. Sadly, he died recently at 91 but his books and art will certainly live on. If anyone is interested in collage and hasn’t heard of his work (though I can’t imagine that) it’s worth checking out.
This reminds me of the wonderful collage work of Eric Carle. It’s how he creates his stash for the incredible collages he does — and he paints it all on tissue paper. No fancy x-acto knife for him, he cuts shapes with a single edged razor blade! You can see a bit of his work and studio at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYG1tLt5GCQ. Sadly, he died recently at 91 but his books and art will certainly live on. If anyone is interested in collage and hasn’t heard of his work (though I can’t imagine that) it’s worth checking out.
This reminds me of the wonderful collage work of Eric Carle. It’s how he creates his stash for the incredible collages he does — and he paints it all on tissue paper. No fancy x-acto knife for him, he cuts shapes with a single edged razor blade! You can see a bit of his work and studio at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYG1tLt5GCQ. Sadly, he died recently at 91 but his books and art will certainly live on. If anyone is interested in collage and hasn’t heard of his work (though I can’t imagine that) it’s worth checking out.
This reminds me of the wonderful collage work of Eric Carle. It’s how he creates his stash for the incredible collages he does — and he paints it all on tissue paper. No fancy x-acto knife for him, he cuts shapes with a single edged razor blade! You can see a bit of his work and studio at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYG1tLt5GCQ. Sadly, he died recently at 91 but his books and art will certainly live on. If anyone is interested in collage and hasn’t heard of his work (though I can’t imagine that) it’s worth checking out.
This reminds me of the wonderful collage work of Eric Carle. It’s how he creates his stash for the incredible collages he does — and he paints it all on tissue paper. No fancy x-acto knife for him, he cuts shapes with a single edged razor blade! You can see a bit of his work and studio at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYG1tLt5GCQ. Sadly, he died recently at 91 but his books and art will certainly live on. If anyone is interested in collage and hasn’t heard of his work (though I can’t imagine that) it’s worth checking out.
This reminds me of the wonderful collage work of Eric Carle. It’s how he creates his stash for the incredible collages he does — and he paints it all on tissue paper. No fancy x-acto knife for him, he cuts shapes with a single edged razor blade! You can see a bit of his work and studio at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYG1tLt5GCQ. Sadly, he died recently at 91 but his books and art will certainly live on. If anyone is interested in collage and hasn’t heard of his work (though I can’t imagine that) it’s worth checking out.
Im a big fan of Eric Carle. Weve got lots of his books for kids!
Im a big fan of Eric Carle. Weve got lots of his books for kids!
Im a big fan of Eric Carle. Weve got lots of his books for kids!
Im a big fan of Eric Carle. Weve got lots of his books for kids!
Im a big fan of Eric Carle. Weve got lots of his books for kids!
Im a big fan of Eric Carle. Weve got lots of his books for kids!
Im a big fan of Eric Carle. Weve got lots of his books for kids!
Great advice about strategically making collage papers. Thanks!
Great advice about strategically making collage papers. Thanks!
Great advice about strategically making collage papers. Thanks!
Great advice about strategically making collage papers. Thanks!
Great advice about strategically making collage papers. Thanks!
Great advice about strategically making collage papers. Thanks!
Great advice about strategically making collage papers. Thanks!
I love this. I have my gel print papers separated by color into big ziplock bags.
I love this. I have my gel print papers separated by color into big ziplock bags.
I love this. I have my gel print papers separated by color into big ziplock bags.
I love this. I have my gel print papers separated by color into big ziplock bags.
I love this. I have my gel print papers separated by color into big ziplock bags.
I love this. I have my gel print papers separated by color into big ziplock bags.
I love this. I have my gel print papers separated by color into big ziplock bags.
Great organization tip!
Great organization tip!
Great organization tip!
Great organization tip!
Great organization tip!
Great organization tip!
Great organization tip!