Collage Book
Sometime in the summer of 2022, I realized that I was creating a lot of excess images and text with each collage that I completed. It seemed wasteful somehow. I thought about what to do to use up what I had on hand. Maybe another collage format? In doing an Internet search, I came across the idea of making a collage book. I already keep a sketch book and journal so this seemed like a logical step. The collage books come in an infinite variety of forms and can have any purpose the maker wishes. It seemed like a great project to use up all of my scraps. I found some videos which showed me how to put a basic book together using a very simple binding method. I used my existing skill set with collage basics (gluing, design, paper knowledge, etc.) and quickly put a "test" book together. Well, these books are rather addictive! They are perfect for generating ideas for larger collages, trying out ideas and learning about the craft. The idea soon morphed into its own entity: an extension of my existing collages, only in book form. I have done three now and I learn many things with each book. The pages are imperfect but full of "me", which I rather like. The books require a lot of patience and have many steps which, oddly enough, is appealing. The book shown below is inspired by the journals of naturalists from the 18th and 19th centuries. I love the long and cumbersome titles, all the little bits of details, and the images of those early journals. While making my book, for subject matter, I considered the curiosities of the human condition: how we intersect with the natural world and beyond. I have included images and text which reflect the spiritual, the scientific, and the natural world. Each page can be enlarged by clicking on it.
Collage Book 10/22-12/22
1. Cover of book
2. Inside cover of book, image and title page
3. Image, inside cover
4. View of pages as a whole
1. Title Page, end quote, and image
2. Quote and image
3. Quote, image plus dedication
4. Table of contents plus image
Chapters 1 and 2 summaries and corresponding pages
Chapter 3 summary and corresponding pages
Chapter 4 summary, corresponding pages, and epilogue
