The collages are one-of-a kind originals incorporating antique and vintage paper, and other finds. You'll spot postcards, engravings, greeting cards, sheet music, wallpaper, scraps, trade cards, illustrations, text, tickets and other paper goodies. Plus, a smattering of ephemera - paper/fabric tape measures, game pieces, buttons, hat pins - as well as modern recyclables such as used gift bags and wrapping paper. I'm not beyond dumpster diving or making illegal u-turns when spying a yard sale or an intriguing pile of trash set out for collection.
My rules are simple: 1) recycle. 2) obey copyright laws. 3) no photocopies - authenticity is the goal.
I've been collecting paper and ephemera for decades. It started with a passion for Victorian/Edwardian era holiday postcards, but has slipped into the early 20th century with recent detours into the 1940s-'60s.
Acrylic and watercolor paint, ink, pastel and color pencil also are used on many of the collages, which is what makes them mixed-media. I generally make them on archival bases and use archival glues, too. Each is signed and sealed to protect the fragile papers. All are © by my company, Paper With a Past, and cannot be reproduced for commercial use without my permission.
