Collage : A New Approach [Paperback]

Jonathan Talbot (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2001

This book describes a new technique, developed by the author, which makes it possible to adhere collage elements without liquid adhesives. This technique eliminates wrinkling and drying time from collage-making, offering new opportunities for creative spontaniety. Also included is information on "paperless" transfer of printed and photocopied images, alternatives to adhesives, archival concerns, framing and presentation of finished works, and more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The works of painter and collage artist Jonathan Talbot have been exhibited at The National Academy and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and have represented the U.S. overseas in exhibitions sponsored by the State Department and the Smithsonian Institution. Talbot's works are included in museum collections in the U.S. and Europe and in other public and private collections worldwide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 55 pages
• Publisher: Jonathan Talbot; 5 edition (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970168128
• ISBN-13: 978-0970168122
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

145 of 148 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary, November 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Collage : A New Approach (Paperback)

This book has totally changed the way I work when I create collages. Don't be put off by the low page count -- there is more information packed into these 55 pages than in the 3 books on collage that I own, combined.

This is a technique book, not a book on collage design or color theory. In this book, Talbot battles the biggest challenge for collage artists: once you've got your elements arranged as you want them, you have to pick them up again to apply adhesive -- and then remember how they were arranged in the first place. Talbot solves this problem with the use of readily available materials, and leaves the artist free to create instead of worrying about what goes where.

In addition to the technical information, I found the appendix and source list invaluable. Talbot tells the reader how to easily obtain every item that is mentioned in the book, as well as suggesting alternatives. I have not yet seen another book on collage as well planned and thought-out as this one.

107 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Technical Guide, December 22, 2001

By 

BeachReader (Delaware) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Collage : A New Approach (Paperback)

I am a very beginning beginner at collage and am so glad I found this little gem of a book! The method that Talbot has devised is ingenious and makes so much sense.

I liked the way he organized the book...first he did an overview of the process and then went into great detail about each step in this process. For a beginner like me, his careful explanations of how to do this and of the tools involved was marvelous and much appreciated.

In addition to exlplaining his technique of adhering materials without using liquid adhesives, Talbot touches on the history of collage, some collage artists to look for, why to varnish, the kinds of papers to use as a substrate, how to prepare a surface for adhesion, and how to present the finished collage.

As another reviewer mentioned, the appendix is a great resource, especially the appendix that explains all of the materials and tools used. I also liked the appendix that gave web sites of interest to collage artists.

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and well-written, April 23, 2004

By 

Twitchy Pen (Sacramento, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Collage : A New Approach (Paperback)

This book has more solid information than most of the collage books out there. I appreciate the detailed references to products and the step-by-step instructions. Most collage books fill space with projects that are often not things I would ever make, although the techniques used are of interest. I prefer this book for I don't have to read through projects to glean ideas (although that has its place too).

The image transfer is SO easy! I bought the paper he recommends but use a clothes iron and the backing paper that contact paper/stickers come on instead of the tacking iron and release paper. I love the freedom to choose my own images to transfer and being able to use them without destroying the originals.

I highly recommend this book-- just remember that you can do this process with a home iron, sticker backing paper, magazines and any brand of gloss gel medium. You don't have to go out and buy everything he recommends and you can get all of your images from magazines although I highly recommend the special paper for greater image choice.