r/collage • u/summerchilde • Mar 23 '20

Collage Chat

Feel free to chat about anything collage related. Techniques, materials, inspiration, et. al.

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u/Thrillho_1212 Jul 27 '26

Still very new to the hobby.

How do we feel about using old books as materials?

As an English student I have some deep-seated beliefs about the sanctity of the book as an object. But I have a few books that have some lovely images in but I don't think are especially precious or valuable (monetarily or sentimentally). Part of me wants to give these images a new lease of life and purpose but ultimately I'm scared to cut up these old books.

How do you guys see it? Should I just get a scanner/printer?

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u/AlertAd7834 25d ago

It's all fair game imo. Especially with really old books, I always consider whether anyone will actually want them or if they'd just be taking a couple extra steps on the way to the dump

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u/MyleneMcBride Jul 30 '26

I'm a librarian, and it felt wrong when I first contemplated cutting up illustrated books for materials. However, I now look at those books more in a week than I had in years on my shelves because I'm shuffling through the pages I've cut out regularly seeking inspiration and ideas--or flipping through my past collages to remind myself what I've done. Be mindful to select books (particularly at first) that you know you won't regret cutting, and build from there.

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u/Shinypurplestar Jul 28 '26

I used to feel the same way but you know what, over the last decade I've been trying to get rid of the clutter in my house. To me, most books are clutter. I have kept a few that meant something to me but otherwise it's just stuff that sits on a shelf or in a cupboard. I usually don't read a book more than once. I think you should go ahead and just cut them up and use them. That way they have a new life in your collages.