New Book, Collage Your Life

Have you tried collage art? It's an incredibly freeing process because there are no rights or wrongs. After all, simple cutting and gluing are at its core. But if you would like to take your collaging prowess to the next level and beyond, Collage Your Life, a new book by art teacher and collage artist Melanie Mowinski, provides a wealth of ideas, techniques, and inspiring prompts. 

 

 cover of Collage Your Life book shows hands cutting paper square and selection of paper crafting tools and supplies

 

In addition to the author's work, collages created by dozens of guest artists serve as colorful examples. 


back cover of Collage Your Life book shows printed text and collage examples

 

The colorful 224 page paperback (also available as an e-book) is composed of four thorough chapters:

book page shows tools for paper collage encapsulation technique


Chaper 1 - Build Your Materials - delves into tools and supplies, and also the building blocks of design and composition.

 

book page explains color basics with collage example
 Courtesy of Kaci Smith

 

Chapter 2 - Develop Your Techniques - teaches basic collage methods as well as instructions for mixing other mediums into your collage.

book page from Collage Your Life shows how to add detail and paint with adhesive

Mars Vilaubi © Storey Publishing, LLC

 

Chapter 3 is the bulk of the book - 55 Prompts to Jump-Start Your Practice. Melanie suggests setting parameters such as a thirty minute time limit, working with just three papers from your stash, and tearing rather than cutting because these things will force your creativity. Each prompt includes instructions to get you started, a sample collage, and text that points out its features and explains the placement of the elements.

collage shows woman wearing long skirt and white blouse on rocky beach with orange slice respresenting sun

 © Karen Lynch, Leaf and Petal Design

Lastly, Chapter 4 - Creating the Container - shows a few different ways of constructing books - rejuvenating a cardboard box, and making an accordion book and a storage book with pockets.

 

book page shows examples of handmade books
© Charlotte D’Aigle, Talisman, acrylic/paper collage on board, 12" × 9"
 

You'll also find additional reading and resource lists, contributors and featured artist information, and a handy index. 

 

collage of woman standing in waterfall holding flower bouquet in woodsy scene
© Johanna Goodman, The Catalogue of Imaginary Beings, Plate No. 392
 

And now a U.S. GIVEAWAY! [ENDED]

 

To enter to win a copy of Collage Your Life, simply post a comment on this page after reading the note below:

 

NOTE: You must include your email address within your actual comment so that you can be notified if you win. If spam is a concern, type it like this: janedoe at gmail dot com (The blog's platform makes it impossible for me to see the email address you type in at first, thus this necessity.)

book page from Collage Your Life shows explanatory text and paintbrush next to paper on which adhesive has been applied

 Mars Vilaubi © Storey Publishing, LLC

 

Two chances to win: An identical giveaway is underway on Instagram [ENDED]. Yes, go ahead and enter both places. Double your chances! 


book page about generating ideas for collaging
© Laura Weiler, photos sourced from National Geographic

 

Winners will be chosen on Sunday, July 17 via a random number generator - one from blog entries and one from Instagram entries - and announced at the bottom of this post and on the Instagram post. 

 

collage art of man in swimsuit walking across sand toward oversized flowers

 © Connor “Phib” Dainty

 

Collage Your Life is available now and can be purchased from Storey, Amazon, your favorite bookseller and/or ask your local library to obtain a copy. 

 

Congratulations to the winner!

ccwhitmore

 

Excerpted from Collage Your Life by Melanie Mowinski. 

Used with permission from Storey Publishing.

Thank you to Storey for sponsoring this giveaway.
 

 

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from 

qualifying links at no additional cost to you. 

Thank you, should you choose to use them.






 

Ann Martin
Ann Martin

This is a short biography of the post author and you can replace it with your own biography.

Comments

  1. I really want this book! jtokelley@gmail.com

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    1. Great book! cwadebrickhouse@mac.com

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    2. Looks like a great book, suzie ross at yahoo dot com

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  2. Nicely organized and would love to win one.

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  3. This looks like a wonderful book. Thanks for all you do for paper artists. Joanna dot smolko at Gmail dot com

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  4. This looks valuable for adding content to artist’s books. mstrauch at mac dot com

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  5. What a fabulous book! The collages really "speak to me". Thanks for the opportunity to win.
    mmsrygley at gmail dot com

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  6. This book looks so interesting…I’d love it. sjhackney@yahoo.com

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  7. What a beautiful book! So many great ideas! lahlstedt@gmail.com

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  8. I would love to win this book. I need a new way to channel my ideas and creativity! Thanks for the opportunity! donnabridy@aol.com

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  9. Oooohhhhh I hope I win!!! Dpeltz1@comcast.net

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  10. This book looks amazing.

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  11. wow, what a wonderful book this is. This can help me with ideas, so that I can develop my creativity even more, especially now that I am suddenly limited by my visual impairment. What a cool book!! teavogel12@gmail.com

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  12. This book looks like so much fun. Janhen30@yahoo.com

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  13. I would love to win this book! applegate17 at att dot com

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  14. Looks like a wonderful book, very helpful. lynn.lide1@gmail.com

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  15. Thank you for this! cervidae at hotmail dot com

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  16. What a dandy book! I'd love to own a copy! Madetparis@gmail.com

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  17. I would add collage to handmade books. My email is slkunze at Gmail dot com Thank you for the giveaway!

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  18. What an interesting book! My E-mail is: ellencrouch605 at Gmail dot com

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  19. It looks like a very comprehensive and inspiring book. Congratulations to all involved. Please do enter me for a chance to win a copy. Thank you! cchristi702 at gmail dot com

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  20. I've always loved paper art. dgessel at hotmail dot com

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  21. Would love a copy - ccwhitmore13 at Yahoo dot com

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  22. I'd love this book. I had a local artist do a collage class at my studio, and it was such fun. ddrobneyphotos at gmail dot com.

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  23. looks great--can't wait to read whether I win or not! Amyhealey5595 at gmail dot com

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  24. This technique would be an awesome addition to my paper quilling! I’ve never tried collage so it would be an interesting book for me. Artisticquilling850@gmail.com

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  25. Been meaning to get into collage. It is something that I have always been curious about. zmurtaza@gmail.com

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  26. Looks like it’s full of great ideas! 3cece at comcast.net

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  27. Entering to win! lsantelli39@gmail dot com

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  28. Such a great sneak peek into an interesting book! Thank you.
    Suecherk@gmail.com

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  29. I put this book on my August birthday wish list as soon as it appeared on instagram. Winning it would certainly qualify as a birthday present! handwrittenbyjoyce@gmail .com or joycefrancisart@gmail.com.

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  30. Inspiring book! Hope I win!! maki4355 at yahoo dot com

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  31. Would love this book! Thanks for the opportunity. Shelley
    shelleykatsh@gmail.com

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  32. Sounds like a wonderful book. shanes @ peak dot org

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  33. Collage is one of my favourite things to do. rshlight at spiceisle dot com

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  34. This looks like a great book for beginners. Wmwilson30@gmail dot com

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  35. The book looks lovely! Extremely detailed instructions. Good luck to all who enter the contest. odessa8810@gmail.com

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  36. Thanks for all you do. The book looks great. clearsea at tutanota dot com

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  37. Interested in this. Abanks1974@yahoo.com. Andrea Banks

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  38. I think the prompts would be especially helpful! ghutson456 at gmail dot com.

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  39. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for a chance to win a copy. phaskin at hotmail dot com

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  40. Love collaging (is that a verb?!) -- there so many opportunities to express yourself regardless of skill level. edaniel44 at gmail dot com

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  41. This book looks absolutely fascinating. At the very least, I'm off to add it to my Wishlist! tryllyam at yahoo dot com

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  42. WOW!
    This book looks so cool! Would love the chance to add it to my library. If selected, it could be my end of July birthday present (just sayin'😉). cece77dod@aol.com

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  43. This looks great. I would love to give one a home. kuby1@hotmail.com

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  44. Eeeehhhh that looks like a good book. Love the bride page. LOL Thank you for a give away.

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  45. This is so inspirational! What a great hobby. joycefl6 at yahoo dot com

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  46. This book looks AMAZING! Thanks for making it available for whomever wins! csthankful@midrivers.com

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  47. The book looks wonderful! awoodstock at comcast dot net

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  48. The inspiration to try collage! Thank you! ebmom2 at gmail.com

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  49. This looks very interesting! Smara6344 at aol.com

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  50. Looks like an awesome book. would love to win one. maryjmang@verizon.net

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  51. What a lovely looking book. I would love to have it to help my friends with their pursuit of collage lagalesa@gmail.com

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