I Think You're Going to Want This

If you follow this blog I know you like postage stamps -- and mail and collage -- and looking at inspiring photos.
So, I must share with you, my friend Margarete's new and charming little book --
One Stamp at a Time.
I just bet you're going to want a copy too.....

This book is filled with lovely collages with postage stamps as a element.  That's right up my alley.
It's the perfect size to tuck in a bag and take with you to browse through on the streetcar or in a cafe...

I still can't get over Margarete found this giant BEE stamp at Scrap before me. Good thing I like her so much.

Aren't you getting inspired?

I love the faux postamrls she often includes too....if you have stamps you need postmarks, right?

The mail art and collages Margarete sends me are some of my favorite things. This a sheet of rolodex cards I haven't been able to bring myself to separate. I like them just the way they are.

Here are some collages ATC's she made me...also unseparated...

So, if you wan t to get your hot little hands on this cool book, here you go--
One Stamp at a Time
(you know you want it)
And, if you order, would you do me favor and tell her you heard about the book here?
I'd appreciate it.
And let me know what you think, ok?

SEND GOOD MAIL --GET GOOD MAIL

(and go make some collages too)

My 2-cents About Collage

I see collage materials everywhere. And, I mean everywhere! It seems I am always collecting paper ephemera and trash and flyers and menus...and well, you get the idea.
And I've got to do something with all the stuff I come home every day.
Tearing and pasting is so relaxing and fun for me.
I try to make a collage or two everyday. And when I travel I really get excited about making them.
This is on a walk right near my house....

How could I resist tearing off a few of the flyers that are taped up all over?
I couldn't!

Collage materials
I always prefer to use original ephemera to work with. I especially like aged-paper but any interesting paper will do.
Some folks like to work with a photo-copy and hold on to the original. No rules.
I like gritty and.....

pretty is OK too.....
I will collage with just about any paper I get my hands on.

You can use cardboard, mat board, cut up cereal boxes as a base. Use matte medium or a glue stick to glue. You can tear or cut with a scissors. Pick up stuff off the street, use tourist brochures, transit tickets, old photos and letters, stamps, food wrappers......any paper will do...all you need is glue and a base...
Just do it.

Collage
Here's one (about 5x7) made from stuff I tore off a pole.

Three collages received from mail art pals -- eye candy and inspiration. Thanks to Adrienne, Carol and Cleo.

Recommended Books

The Collage Workbook by Randel Plowman is probably my favorite. I recommend it.
Check it out of the library and see what you think.
Also highly recommended --
Collage Journeys - A Practical Guide to Creating Personal Artwork by Jane Davies
(Jane also has a great collage blog and offers online classes)
Collage Techniques - A Guide for Artists and Illustrators by Gerald Brommer
Masters: Collage - Major Works by Leading Artists 

Plowman has some really good suggestions to get you started -- like this one. He also offers
online classes.

Kurt Schwitters

Just about my favorite collage artist, Schwitters is an inspiration. If you ever get a chance to see his work in person, don't miss it. I saw a show at the Berkeley Art Museum a while back and seeing his work in person is so much better than seeing it on the page.
But check out the book too!

 

Kolji magazine

A magazine (from Canada) about collage. You can subscribe. Or ask your library to get it.

My Various Collage Projects

I carry a little notebook around with me and I like to make little random collages with things sitting around on my work table or found in the streets. With the notebook and a glue stick I am always ready to whip out a small collage -- something fun to do when I stop in at a cafe for a cappuccino.

Daily collages

I also like to make a daily collage using things from the day -- these are from a walk I took on the   4th of July, using things from the day (bus transfer) and things fund on the street (fire cracker wrappers).

A recent series of collages I made using vintage French postcards and old family photographs.

I got an idea of sending on my long-gone relatives on a trip to France! I think they would enjoy it, don't you?

Contemporary Collage Artists -- work I
 love....

Allan Bealy -- his book Mud Bath is published by Black Scat press
Michael Cutlip - MichaelCutlip.com
Niko Courtelis - Philatelic Atrocities published by Kat Ran Press
Ivan Chermayeff - Why Stamps? book by Kat Ran Press

You should be able to find all these artists by Googling them.

Another favorite and a mail art pal of mine is Planet Susannia in Germany.
I am so lucky to have a collection of her incredible one-of-a-kind collage books.
You can Google her to find her IUOMA page and her blog....

Allan Bealy/Pamela Gerard collages

Travel table Top
- - just back from an overnight and of course I packed a little travel kit to make mail art and collages.
Travel is so inspiring for collages. every big trip I take I make collages every night and they are are a
terrific souvenir of the trip.

THREE THINGS I LEARNED IN ART SCHOOL

1. Feast Your Eyes -- look as as much art as you possibly can. Go to every collage art show you can. Look at all the books you can find. You will eventually train your eye.

2. Practice Makes Perfect -- make a collage or two or 10 every day. You get better by doing it. That's why students keep a drawing sketchbook and budding photographers are supposed to shoot every day.
There is no doubt that if you want to get good at something, you have to put in the time.

3. Know the Rules before you break them -- take a class. Preferably a real class in a studio but if that isn't possible, take an online class. There is a lot to learn about composition, color, glue etc and a good instructor can get you going.

So, there you go, my 2-cents!
Now go forth and tear and paste and have fun!

Anybody know about any other fabulous collage artist? Any great books? Any classes you recommend? Please let us all know in the comments.
Because I'm still learning too.....

I hope you all enjoyed this post (and thank you to Rachel for asking me to do a collage post). Blogger was driving me crazy and I lost half of what I had written but I stuck it out....so let me know if it was worth all the frustration trying to get this one done...