Collage Art: The Step-By-Step Guide and Showcase [Hardcover]

Jennifer L. Atkinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1996

Presenting 9 innovative and fun collage projects from professional collage artists, this book is a visually exciting class in one of the world most often used and admired art techniques. The beauty of collage art is its appeal and accessibility at every level of sophistication. 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 from nine collage artists.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jennifer Atkinson is the associate director of the Clark Gallery, an art and craft gallery located in Lincoln, Massachusetts. While there, she has co-curated such shows as The Found Object, a group exhibition of artists using found and recycled materials, Rooms with Views: Body/Nature/Culture/Politics, work in all media addressing topical issues, and Second Chance, a group exhibition of artists using found and recycled material at the Recycle Gallery of Industrial Art. Atkinson has also served as director of corporate art programs at the Copley Society of Boston, and has published numerous reviews for Art New England magazine.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Collage had a long, vital history as a folk art before it emerged as a fine art in the twentieth century. In Europe, Asia, and the Americas, all kinds of everyday materials were transformed into mementos and decorations: pictures made of matchsticks, straw, butterfly wings, or feathers; portrait silhouettes cut carefully from paper and framed; fancy paper Valentines garnished with bits of lace and cutout papers; and pressed flower arrangements... Collage continues to appeal to professional artists, and amateurs as well, because it presents a personal, spontaneous way of working with materials that are easy to obtain...As you will see, the creative possibilities of working with collage are infinate.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Pub (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564962156
• ISBN-13: 978-1564962157
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #981,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have, tons of inspriational art & ideas, January 30, 2000

By 

Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Collage Art: The Step-By-Step Guide and Showcase (Paperback)

I own several collage books and this is definitely on my must have list. It is packed with full-color photos of inspirational & imaginative collage art from a variety of talented artists.

The book is divided into sections focusing on paper, fabric & found object collage. Collagraphy, in which the collage itself serves as a plate for transferring the texture to a print that can be further embellished is also included.

Each section features two projects that are both described & demonstrated step-by-step with color photos. I especially like one made entirely of paste papers. I was able to create a stunning abstract artwork with ease.

Resource & school lists along with an artist directory are nice bonuses. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking excellent instruction & fresh ideas to create their own collage artwork.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lush, be inspired!, October 8, 2003

By 

Nagagirl (Southeast Virginia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Collage Art: The Step-By-Step Guide and Showcase (Hardcover)

I've had my share of disappointments with collage books. So much of the rubber stamping craft craze has moved into what we call "Collage".
I was afraid this book would be hyping rubber stamp and craft company
products. Never have I been so WRONG!

This book is by and for artists who are working on original ideas. The "how to's" are not for cookie cutter projects but informative in recipes (wheat paste glue) and techniques. All work in this book is by serious,
original artists.

This book has me planning two days off to play around with some of my own ideas using the techniques of application of paint and materials in this book.

You won't be sorry, buy the book!

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Releasing my "Inner Artist", October 25, 2001

By 

BeachReader (Delaware) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Collage Art: The Step-By-Step Guide and Showcase (Paperback)

I have long been interested in collage and recently decided to try my hand at it. To facilitate this, I got several books on the subject. This was one of the nicest and most complete.

Atkinson's beautiful book was a great help. I liked the way collage artists showed, step by step, how they created their collages. The photgraphy of the pieces was excellent, making it a very visually appealing book.

My only disappointment was that the book did not cover what materials to use, what glue to paste with, what different kinds of papers are available, and preservation of the finished work. This is not the fault of the author....she never claimed that the book was a beginner's guide.

Overall, this was a great resource book.