7 Collage Books to Inspire Your Inner Artist

Artist and author Melanie Mowinski has compiled a wealth of beginner-friendly collage knowledge in this book. Covering different types of materials and approaches, while also providing examples from various artists and further resources, this book is great for anyone getting started. 

55 prompts are provided to help anyone who is stuck staring at a blank page. Instructions on bookbinding techniques are also included for those who wish to work inside a journal.

There is also an introduction to #the100dayproject for accountability. Mowinski provides the reader with everything they need to charge forward with their scissors and glue. 

New Creative Collage Techniques by Nita Leland includes the vital history of collage, dating back to the twelfth century in Japan. Using different materials pasted together, the substrate was used for calligraphers to write their poems.

Unknown to them at the time, they were creating art on an entirely different level. Leland traces the use of collage and assemblage across different stages of human history, up to the modern era. 

This book includes material lists, a bibliography for further study, and an array of different techniques that will keep the beginner collagist busy for quite some time. All in all, a great book for the full scope of what collage is as an art form and a practice.

Tracy English has provided a darling example of how collage can be used in the most unexpected ways. In the book, English covers materials and painting techniques to create specific looks or textures. The rest of the book is dedicated to walking the novice through each project step by step. 

Each new project begins by introducing the plant in question and sharing facts about it, which is a nice touch. The projects themselves are great for those looking for a specific look, and the book provides enough detail and pictures to avoid being overwhelming. 

For those looking to create colorful floral paper projects, look no further. 

This small book of inspiration is a perfect addition to an art book collection. The author doesn’t show via step-by-step tutorials per se, but invites the reader to look at a wide array of different artists’ work. 

The work is often explained, and the technique, materials, or process highlighted. This is wonderful for those beginner (and seasoned) artists who struggle with the inner critic. If free-play sounds more enjoyable and less stressful, this book is definitely a great resource. 

Collage is, after all, a medium known for experimentation and unique additions. This book of inspirational nudges invites the artist out of their head and onto the page without overthinking. 

This book was a surprising delight as it dove into more technical techniques that many self-taught artists might be unaware of. Artist Samuel Price shares the grid technique that helps him lay out portraits of animals and people, though the book offers much more. 

There are several projects that Price walks the reader through in great detail. There is also an amazing balance between instruction and invitation to experiment. 

For those who want more structure, especially when getting started, this book is a great introduction. The projects start relatively simple and get harder as the book progresses, which allows the reader to assess their progress as they go. 

Artist Wen Redmond shares a treasure trove of techniques that bring analog collage to the digital space. Redmond combines photography, paper, and fiber (among other things) to create interesting layered works. The outcome of these processes is fun and sometimes surprising. 

It is another great collection of skills to add to the collage toolbox. New artists may also find themselves encouraged to branch out beyond the typical cut-and-paste magazine collage. 

Collage is an art of experimentation, and this book takes it to the max. Kristy Conlin, with the help of other artists, shares mixed-media collage and assemblage pieces that push expectations. The challenge of the book is to specifically move away from the traditional idea of collage. 

It does not disappoint. While a wider array of materials is needed for some of the projects, it’s a fun book that will keep the reader guessing. The biggest leap is taking collage into 3D form, which will leave artists excited at the possibilities of what they can create!