Printable Collage

Generally the hardest part of a journal page isn’t creating a background at all. For many of us a crisp white page is a temptation to add color. Even several colors go down with ease. It’s after that point, once that paint has dried and you need to begin that we get stuck.

I am big on recycling and reusing so I tend to start with old text or scraps of patterned papers. Even images from magazines and books.

There are those times though where I can get stuck and need a little help getting this process started. Or at times it may be I just need something that inspires me to work with. That little spark that happens when I get motivated to head off in my own direction.

Having grappled with that ‘what now’ moment often enough I felt I needed to do something about it.

I reuse my art in so many ways that it occurred to me I could reuse all of those doodles and borders and faces from previous pages as a jump start. Or just as complimentary elements on new pages. I have put together what I am calling ‘Printable Collage’ sheets.

These are similar to all of the other collage sheets you see with one difference. And I think it is a pretty big difference.

The difference is that they are bits and pieces of journal pages that I have already created. And because I use all of my own images these are mine to do with however I wish. I own them fully and the copyright to them.

What it means to you is that I have the right to give them to you and give you the right to use them freely in your art journals as often or in any way you choose. Paint over them, doodle over them, you can even alter them.

You never have to worry about what the copyright is because I have stated it very clearly on the bottom of the printable file. By doing this you always have the permission bit right in the original download and it prints when you print the sheet (see the aqua strip at the bottom of the picture).

In Vogue - Printable Collage sheet #1

In Vogue - Printable Collage sheet #1

I realized it would be fun to share these pages with you too. So many of you have helped me to grow as an artist and opened your own art to me. In my own small way I really want to give back to this amazing and fantastic art community. So I am offering these sheets to you for free to use in your journals.

No more worries. You only have to remember not to redistribute that actual file that you have downloaded. What I mean is don’t send it off to your friends. Instead, send your friends here to this page and they can then download their own free copy. There is no obligation other than that [ or as in my favorite saying: "Christy's mantra: Hakuna Matata" ]

In the first page I have created, I’ve included 8 strips that you can cut (or tear) apart and use as fodder for collage. Next up will be a page or two of painted faces that can be added to your collages or even as backgrounds you can glaze over for layering and depth.

If you want to be notified via email when I add new sheets for download just enter your email address below:

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New downloads will be available from my newsletter along with other extras I am planning to offer in 2010 and beyond.

I hope you enjoy these little gifts from me to you.

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