Hobby Hole: Collaging
Looking for a new craft? Collaging is a fun, low stakes way to make art!
Anna RudgeI’ve always been drawn to making art. Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved painting and drawing. As I grew older, my only issue was that I wasn’t very good at either of those activities. There’s nothing wrong with being bad at a hobby you love, but I was sad that I could never quite master the art of painting or drawing.
One day, I had an epiphany. Who says you need to be limited to a pen or brush? Why not use pictures that already exist to create new ones? And that’s when I decided to start collaging.
Every aspect of collaging is so much fun, and differs from more traditional methods of visual art. I love going to the thrift store and scouring for magazines, deciding which images to use, and how to put them all together. Collaging is a chill hobby you can do while listening to music or watching your favourite show. It’s also a great creative outlet and form of expression. If you’re looking to try something new, think about trying collaging!
How can I get started?
First things first, you need supplies. Hunting for material is one of the most fun parts of collaging. I recommend going to a local thrift store, like Value Village, or a used bookstore, like the Wee Book Inn. Magazines have the most bang for your buck, but don’t feel limited! Any old book you don’t mind cutting up can work. Art books, illustrated novels, and children’s books can all provide great visuals as well.
Next, you’ll need some more pragmatic supplies. Some glue or double-sided tape to attach everything together. I recommend a base paper to fix all of your images to. You’ll also need scissors or an exacto knife to cut out your pictures. I prefer an exacto knife, as they allow you to cut more precisely, but a pair of regular scissors works just fine too.
Once you’ve got all of your supplies, start crafting! While it may be intimidating to cut into a book or picture at first, remember its okay to mess up. And if something does go wrong, incorporate it into your art.
While it may be daunting to tear into a magazine, and the thrift store can be intimidating, don’t fret. The magic of collaging is that it can be anything you want it to be!
