Unfortunately, due to the increasing preoccupation with copyright infringement, today’s collage artists have to be careful about the images they use in their work. Here are some imaginative ways for artists to get round this problem whilst at the same time enhancing the originality of their collage art.
Public Domain and Vintage Images
There is a huge range of vintage images available on the web both paid for and free in the public domain. Using these kind of images can help to avoid copyright infringement issues however, from a stylistic point of view, constant reliance on vintage images can make the artwork lose individuality. Instead collage artists can experiment with using their own photos – both current and from family albums – as well as taking advantage of the very many photos to be found on photo sharing sites such as Flickr or Picasa that have been generously shared under a creative commons license. (Artists should check for images which allow for modification and are licensed for commercial reuse if they plan to sell the work.)
Found papers such as wrapping papers, letters, shopping lists, old journal entries and etc can be scanned and printed in various sizes and colours for use in art journals and scrapbook layouts.
Recycled Artworks
One of the best and often most unexploited source of collage material is the artist’s own sketches and even doodles. These can scanned and resized and multiplied or even manipulated using a photo touch up program such as Photoshop, iPhoto or Paint Shop Pro to create interesting effects. The best parts of even unsuccessful artworks can be cut or torn off and used as collage elements or reproduced for the same end.
Found and Bought Embellishments for Mixed Media Collage Art
Collage naturally overlaps into mixed media work so the artist has any number of ways to vary the process and look of a piece:
- Textured backgrounds can be created using scrunched up tissue and crepe papers or even scraps of fabric and stuck down with acrylic medium. Eastern hand-made papers add an exotic look but making hand-made paper is not a difficult process and emphasises the unique look of any collage, journal art or scrapbook layout.
- Found elements such as leaves and flowers, threads, buttons, beads, sequins etc. can be used to make scrapbook embellishments or decorate the cover of an art journal or altered book.
- Art and Craft supply stores now stock a wealth of materials which can be used for collage art but instead of just reaching for the stamps and stencils, look for more unusual items such as tiny, unpainted wooden models to attach to the front of an art journal, quilling strips to make interesting coloured patterns or air dry clay which can be painted and used for all kinds of embellishments.
Create Typefaces for Collage Art with Free Fonts Downloads
DTP or page layout programs such as Adobe InDesign, Pages, Swift Publisher or Microsoft Publisher are a great way to create text for collage art. There are lots of attractive free typefaces available for download and phrases can be printed out pre-formed in a variety of styles and sizes or whole alphabets can be printed and used as desired. Although strictly speaking, text in newspapers and magazines is subject to copyright, for art journals and scrapbook layouts, this kind of ‘found lettering’ can be cut out and mixed up ‘ransom note’ style to make new phrases.
Avoiding copyright infringement need no longer be a headache for collage artists. Instead artists can take advantage of the wealth of materials available in art and craft supply stores; recycle artwork to create original collage elements; use found objects and handmade papers to create interesting mixed media pieces; employ graphic design and photo retouching software with free typefaces to create unusual lettering and altered imagery as well as finding inspiration in the vast amount of creative commons licensed images available on the web.
In this way, they not only ensure that all the images they use are in the public domain but also enhance the originality and uniqueness of their collage art.
Read about how to create better collage compositions.
Cherry Jeffs - Artist, designer, gardener and earth-lover, I was born in the UK but have been living in Spain for the last thirteen years which gives me ...
