Collage - New Directions

This is an exhaustive list of options. You don't need to bring everything listed here. You may have personal choices you may want to bring too, great!

CORE Materials:

Basic Tools

• Pencils and erasers
• Ruler
• Colour wheel
• Masking tape (Painter's preferable - good for temporary holds)
• Phone (for camera)

• USB stick (for printing images in class)
  

Cutting Tools

• Scissors
• Your choice of knives and cutting mat
  

Glues

A glue stick is simple and versatile for porous materials like paper and cardboard. I recommend.

UHU! (Bring more than one!)

Additionally, the liquid acrylic medium also works very well as a glue - it comes as gloss and mat. The gloss dries completely clear, whereas the mat dulls colours down, especially in layers, so I suggest using gloss for all your layering and then a final layer of a mix of gloss and mat as a final coat to get the amount of shine desired on finished pieces. For heavier-duty holds, you can use a gel medium, white glue, glue gun, etc.

Substrates

A supply of decently heavy paper to use as bases. I recommend a pad or two of inexpensive but workmanlike watercolour paper or mixed media paper like Canson XL (140 lb) 9x12" - 12x18". But you can also bring other papers and surfaces in whatever sizes you prefer to work. Try to bring a few larger options for more ambitious work: heavy papers, light cardstock, heavier drawing paper, illustration or mat board. If you want to use canvases and/or wood panels, by all means, go for it. I prefer the solidity of wood panels for collaging (vs the bounce of canvas).

Collage Materials

Can include - images, patterns, colours, textures, newspapers, books, packaging, magazines, painted papers, gift wrap, scrapbooking papers, specialty papers, tissue papers, coloured papers (from cheap construction paper for quick, fun stuff to fancier Japanese papers, etc), fabric scraps, old paintings, etc.

We will dedicate a central table for class-sharing collage materials, and I will bring lots of

magazines, books, etc., for your use.

Online Image Sources

Of course, you can simply do Google image searches - if you're going to rework any image enough - cut pieces out, recontextualize, paint/collage over, etc. - copyright no longer applies. Just be sure that your new creation is clearly more about what you made it into than the original intent of the source image.

Plus, here are a couple of great places to look for and download copyright-free images:

• Flickr Commons - Copyright-free images from dozens of Archives, Libraries, museums, and other organizations around the world.
• Pixabay - 1.6 million high-quality, copyright-free images.

A colour inkjet printer that prints 8.5x11" will be available for you to print images from a USB stick at the cost of $1/page onto premium bond paper.

But to avoid waits and possible tech issues, I suggest that you print as much as you can at home to bring with you.

Optional

Painting papers to collage with is a great way to get custom colours and textures. Acrylics are perfect since once they're dry, they're not re-soluble. A good minimalist option is a warm and cool version of each primary, i.e.:

• Cadmium Yellow Medium and Lemon Yellow or Hansa or Cad. Yellow Light
• Cad. Red Medium and Alizarin Crimson or Quinacridone Magenta
• Phthalo Blue Green Shade and Ultramarine Blue
• Black
• White

A palette and a few brushes - a wide-ish one is good for painting full sheets. If you’re going to paint paper for collaging, I suggest a sketchbook with 80-100lb paper

Tweezers - if working with small pieces

I like to buy scrapbooking paper pads at Walmart or Michaels - you can find some great solid colours, textures, patterns, etc., and they're often acid-free

Thrift stores can be great places to find old books and magazines.

Drawing materials

Conte, charcoal, nib pens and ink, pigment liners, paint markers, coloured pencils, pastels, etc.

Mandatory Studio Safety Practices

Your health and safety is our priority. Our studio environments can have a number of objects, tools and chemicals that require personal protective equipment (PPE) or other consideration for your well-being. All persons (including faculty, staff and students) are asked to observe the following while in the shops and studios:

• Wear sturdy and appropriate shoes such as sneakers, closed leather shoes or work boots open-toed shoes, flip-flops or high heels are not allowed
• No long, dangling clothing or accessories (scarves, flowing sleeves, chains, long necklaces, etc.)
• Long hair must be tied back
• No bare skin if exposure to chemicals or tools/machinery is likely
• Appropriate PPE is mandatory when operating tools and equipment within the studios.
• Please consult with the faculty or studio technician to determine the appropriate PPE required for specific machines and studio processes.
  

Fit tests are required for courses requiring a respirator as noted on your material list. Arrangements will be made on-site. As these are mandatory safety practices, we will follow up directly with students who may have oversighted the above. Individuals may be asked to address any concerns before continuing to work in the studio. Be sure to buy appropriate, good-quality safety articles and equipment, i.e. safety boots, protective eyewear, hearing protection, work gloves, x-acto knives, etc. - ask your supplier for advice.