paper collage art

[HedgeRowsCircle]

I know this topic is mostly about sewing and knitting but I hope discussion about 2D arts are welcome!

I have been a painter for over 30 years and pretty much lost interest years ago. I found that what I wanted to express didn't come naturally to that medium anymore, and after years of wobbling about I seem to have grown really interested in paper collage. I mean the type that uses cut outs from vintage and antique books, papers, etc.
I have only experimented with a few so far (finding my feet), but what I love about it (as opposed to painting) is how multi dimensional it is, how well it lends itself to fairytale themes, dream-like imagery and story telling.

What I want to chat about is how people feel about it as a medium, since I do get the feeling from researching online that it is somewhat looked down on compared to the other visual arts. I suppose this stems from many of the images not being 'drawn or painted' by the artist themselves, but it puzzles me, as this is still a unique and creative art form.

I can't find many active communities surrounding it, and conversations that I have stumbled upon often argue about it's authenticity. I feel a bit sad about that as I find it so exciting, perhaps because I have done the whole painting thing and see so much potential in it.

I am adding a couple of examples (not my own work), and hope to hear people's thoughts. I have this idea that I'd love to make a tableau or a book of scenes that tell stories, perhaps with my poems threaded in, so am now wondering how people cut such tiny things out without ripping the paper (moths antennae, etc)!!!

look up print-making and things like chine-colle where you compose images from layers of other images. Gelee printing also.

and if anyone critiques the idea of using 'found prints' to make art, point them to things like Gilbert & George

Do you use Instagram? If you look up #collage on there you will find a plethora of posts and accounts that contain ideas, hints, tips and all sorts. People are generally very helpful.
As to cutting out, you can get several different paper cutting devices, some are like a pen with a tiny knife blade that cut very small pieces.

Thank you!
I need to look into the tools and various sundries. Have found a few excellent collage artists and communities on instagram, sadly not much elsewhere.

I should probably swerve past reddit, that's where I located so much dispiriting talk about collage, I think the general idea on that site is that unless you are a student of Durer, you are not an authentic' artist'.

@HedgeRowsCircle I love these. Where do you source your materials from? I wouldn't worry about anyone who looks down on it as an art form- arguably there's more creativity here than someone aiming to draw a straightforward photo-realistic likeness. (Just my opinion.)

I think anyone who criticises this medium as “not real art” is showing some real ignorance. As a previous poster pointed out there are definitely some very successful and serious artists working in this area. If it seems like the right medium for expressing yourself you’re absolutely right to pursue it. Good luck!

Glad to see some appreciation! I think it is such a dynamic medium with so much potential, especially for storytelling. I love how well text and various textures seem to open up new worlds and ideas.

After many years of painting flat onto a canvas this feels so liberating.

I really love the work of the paper artist Su Blackwell, the creates 3D sculptures with paper cut outs...one of my favourites:

Where do you source your materials from?

The added images are not my own, but I think many people source images from vintage books, packs of ephemera (ebay etc), photocopies or copyright free samples from the web on a home printer.