Collage FAQ

www.candacewhitman.com

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FAQs about my Illustration Style

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What is collage? Collage comes from the French word "colle" which means glue. In collage, shapes are taken from paper or other material, then glued down to make a picture.

When I make my collages, I first paint the paper with with different colors or patterns (as I am doing in the picture at left) before tearing it into the shapes I need for the book..

What are the steps you follow to create the illustrations? I make thumbnail sketches to show what will happen on each page. I then make larger pencil sketches of each page, and put them together in a pretend paper book. This practice book is called a "dummy."

To start an illustration, I gather several large sheets of the rice paper. I think about the colors I will need to make the picture. Then I dampen the paper, and paint it with water-based paints I have selected.

Because the paper has no sizing, the colors blend easily. That helps me achieve the soft look I like in my collages, and also adds dimension to the final image.

How do you make the shapes so fuzzy? By tearing my shapes, the fibers of the paper hang loose. This creates the soft edge. Tearing is one of the hardest parts of my work, because even the slightest mistake mean I have to start again!

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The little pictures here
are called "thumbnails." I use these
small frames to work out my ideas for
each page of the book.

How do you put the final collage together? I lay out my background pieces on a clean surface, and add smaller shapes one at a time. Sometimes I match my original sketch, sometimes at this stage I think of new ideas. When I'm done, I lay a piece of clear Plexiglas on top so nothing slips out of place.

After a few days, I go back and take another look. I continue to rearrange or add shapes, and then, when I feel it's done, I glue the pieces down.

How did you come up with this unique style? A number of years ago I experimented with some new materials t make a painting. I made designs more than paintings, and really liked the colors. I thought that if I tore around the color areas I liked best I could make collages. I found I liked making art where I didn't have to draw so much - just arrange shapes and colors! A number of years ago I experimented with some new materials t make a painting. I made designs more than paintings, and really liked the colors. I thought that if I tore around the color areas I liked best I could make collages. I found I liked making art where I didn't have to draw so much - just arrange shapes and colors!

The effect was very gentle, and some friends and other artists told me this approach might be appropriate for children's books. Later, in an art class I attended, the teacher also encouraged me to pursue this style. So I made some more collages, and took my portfolio to show to publishers. It was very exciting when I was asked to do my first book!