1.) Libraries - Each year, libraries sell discarded books and magazines that are excellent for cutting up. Alternatively, you can spend an afternoon looking through books in the library for intriguing imagery to photocopy in colour or black and white.
2.) Thrift Shops - Look for antique and old nature books at thrift shops. I have an entire library of old picture books just for cutting up. I also find most of my old magazines for collage in second-hand stores.
3.) Buying Magazines - I buy magazines just to cut up - especially European magazines filled with unusual imagery.
4.) Buying Bargain Books - I often buy gorgeous new image books to cut up. I search the bargain book section in the discounted section of bookstores.
5.) Dollar Stores - I search dollar stores for cheap printed tissue papers, wrapping papers, scrapbook papers and even patterned Kleenex.
6.) Facebook Marketplace and Online Free Sites - Look online for people who want to get rid of old magazines and books for free.
8.) Art Supply Stores - Origami paper, as well as beautiful handmade papers are available in art supply stores.
9.) Online Imagery - Specific imagery can be searched and printed from Google Images, Pinterest, etc.
10.) Wallpaper and Paint Stores - Ask your local paint and decorating store if you can have their old wallpaper sample books. Coloured paint chips work well in a collage as well.
11.) Expired Calendars - These are great for backgrounds and larger collages.
12.) Found Items - Old peeled paint, unique hang tags from clothing or housewares, travel brochures, old playing cards, game pieces, bits of ribbons, pieces of netting used to bag produce, create an eclectic collage toolkit.
Here is a list of ideas for collage materials:
- Art and Craft Magazines have expressive imagery that adds depth, colour, and interest to collages.
- National Geographic Magazines have imagery that taps into the unfamiliar, which is good for exploring the unconscious mind.
- Fashion, Home Design, and Martha Stewart magazines have imagery that illustrates the ideal social self.
- Psychology, Yoga, Oprah, and Self-Help Magazines tap into encouragement, inspiring quotes and helpful wisdom.
- Dover Illustration Books - An endless source of reasonably priced, copyright-free illustrations that can be photocopied for collage. Illustrations can be ordered online in book or CD format for computer printing.
- Second-hand Animal, Flower, and Nature Books - illustrate symbolic aspects of our inner nature.
- Vintage Books - Available in second-hand stores and thrift shops for reasonable prices, old books can be torn and cut up for collage.
- Coloured and Printed Tissue Paper - provides layering and transparent veiling over other collage items.
- Old Drawings and Paintings - illustrate past feelings and selves.
- Colour Photocopies - any image from any book can be colour or black and white photocopies for evocative collages.
- Old Greeting Cards and postcards - for beautiful imagery and encouraging quotes.
- Printed Napkins and Kleenex - adds texture, print, and colour to collages.
- Fabric - adds warmth and texture.
- Wrapping Paper - check specialty paper boutiques for reasonably priced unusual prints and subject matter.
- Scrapbook Papers - some scrapbook papers are visually rich and offer vintage and antique looks that add patina to collages.
- Old Fine Art and Art Instruction Books - can be photocopied, or cut up for gestural drawings and artistic imagery.
Imagery Online
An American academic is creating a searchable database of 12 million historic copyright-free images. Kalev Leetaru has already uploaded 2.6 million pictures to Flickr. Use the link to see many hard-to-find historic images all for free now online here.
Other Items for Collage:
- Maps
- Dictionary pages
- Dress patterns
- Leaves, ferns, dried flowers
- Old stamps
- Yarn, ribbon, cord
- Buttons
- Vintage photos
- Junk mail
- Origami paper
*I use found imagery for personal therapeutic purposes only. Please take care to check into image copyrights if you are selling your collages.
