Never Throw Anything Away

When it comes to art materials, I get awfully close to being a hoarder. You never know when you might need to use something in a collage art project. Whoo.

Now that I am creating a lots of collages, it is even more true. Anything goes and everything needs saving! (I am running out of space.)

I save magazines and catalogs. There’s great packing paper inside the shipping boxes of Stitchfix, a subscription clothing service. It’s a very thin craft paper that’s just terrific. And, there’s the security envelopes that my credit card statements come in. The inside patterns are nice.

And I learned from @fodder.school to always save your under-papers that cover your working surface. I use sheets of newsprint and they become covered with such delightful marks and colors that they become perfect accents in collages. Also, save the cloth you use for brush wiping. Swatches of fabric are useful.

I made a discovery last week that I put to use. I use inexpensive paper plates for mixing acrylic paints and the slightly waxy surface causes streaks and beading of the paints. Once dry, it’s a perfect background for a section of a collage.