Collage
A Third Age Crafts feature
by our Interests, Hobbies & Pastimes Editor

Collage, (from the French coller – to glue), is an old art form given new life in the early part of the 20th century by proponents of modernism such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque who are credited with creating the term.

A Collage is created by arranging various pieces of paper, photographs, matchsticks, newspaper clippings, fabrics (more or less anything at all), and gluing them to a backing generally made from paper or canvas.

It is said that by creating the term and essentially reinventing an older art form, Picasso and Braque married together the art forms of painting and sculpture to create Collage.

The beauty of Collage as a hobby is that it can give artistic expression to those who cannot necessarily paint or draw. So if you have creative talents that have laid dormant since you first decided that brush and pen were not your mediums, perhaps Collage might be the answer for you!

The Collage Sourcebook: Exploring the Art and Techniques of Collage by Jennifer Atkinson, Holly Harrison and Paula Grasdal, provides an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to learn and practice Collage.

The beauty of Collage art appeals to all people. Anyone from the hobbyist to the fine artist can use collage techniques to add creativity and dimension to their work. This book provides creative instruction and inspiration through a wide range of projects and is sure to stimulate ideas and help hobbyists and artists overcome creative blocks. Dozens of techniques are demonstrated in visual step-by-step instructions and use a variety of materials, from paper and fabric to found objects. Tips for getting started and using a variety of techniques such as Photo Transfer, Gold Leaf, Encaustic Assemblage, Photo Montage, Computer Collage, Cast-Paper-Pulp Collage, Tissue-paper Collage, Decoupage, Painting and Printing on paper, working with water-soluble oil pastels, Frottage, texturing or altering paper and altering books, makes this a valuable go-to resource for the Collage artist.

One reader who bought this book said: “A brilliant book, full of exciting ideas – I use it for teaching and it never lets me down for ideas and references. I would recommend this to anyone who is bored or wants to go further than a bit of glue and tissue paper. Excellent!”

For those in their Third Age who would like to learn Collage in a social environment, Collage Courses are available in most areas.

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