The work of Marcelo Stefanovicz is fantastic, I just found his work on Flickr, and I am so amazed by its brilliance. It looks like he makes collages out of the photographs taken of models and cuts out pieces or backgrounds (while keeping the models in tact). These fashion editorials prove how versatile collage is, he is able to give attention to the models by breaking up backgrounds and objects. I just think it's so smart. Check out this Flickr set.

December means a lot of things to me—it means the holidays, my birthday (the 14th), and more importantly, that school is over soon! And that I will get to post some more to my favourite blog (this one). I hope everyone has a wonderful month! I'm thinking of making paper snowflakes right now... too kindergarten?

Also, the deadline for book submissions is December 31st, so if you want to be included, please send me an email! Don't forget! There has been an excellent turnout so far, and I am very excited about this.

(Image via Flickr).

Yes, the above image is a little freaky, but I really like the work of Andrei. His magazine collages are colourful and creative, and I hope he continues to explore this medium. But I'm biased, I think everyone should explore the collage medium, if not at least once in their lives!

Name (Real or Screename): Andrei Cojocaru
URL (Blog, Website): http://andrei75.deviantart.com
Location (Where are you from?): Living in Paris right now, but born in Bucharest, Romania

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: A rather random mix of shapes, colours, letters and numbers.

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: I like to work with just about anything that I think will look good when put next to another thing!:) Seriously, I work with magazine cutouts (both new and vintage), clothing labels, supermarket receipts, pieces of old posters I find on the street or in the subway, transfers... and I also like to add, from time to time, some handwriting or some doodles, so I also use pens, markers, watercolours.

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: I've been really doing it for about six months, but I've been admiring this art for about two years, and started thinking about doing collages myself about a year ago. What made me start? I don't really know... I just felt attracted to this form of art and all of the sudden, my hands started cutting stuff and putting that stuff together in another configuration, until my eyes were pleased with the result...

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: I'd say that "artist" is the last thing I am! I am a full time student, I study Law... totally unrelated to art! But that doesn't keep me from doing collages and some graphic design.

Q: Do you have any formal art training?
A: Absolutely none! I was a graffiti writer for a few years, though, that is my only "art training."
]]> http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/andrei_cojocaru.html http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/andrei_cojocaru.html interviews Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:22:27 -0500 It's so busy here in Toronto (and in my life), and I know everyone else is also insanely busy right now. With work and school and the holidays, etc, etc, etc... I certainly miss blogging every day. I have three weeks of school left (ahh!)—so I will keep posting here and there as I have time—and I'm excited to blog regularly again!

See you soon!
Aprile

PS. I'll still be updating this, the Seen & Heard feed where I share what I find on the blogs I read.

Name (Real or Screename): Jacob Robert Whibley
URL (Blog, Website): www.jacobwhibley.com
Location (Where are you from?): Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.

A: Ephemeral, nonobjective, pyrrhic, architectural, subtle, intricate, interstitial, machined, organic, cumulative.

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: I've been collecting vintage paper from a variety of sources over the last seven years. I mainly use old shipping forms and office ephemera because I enjoy the colours, textures and derailing the existing printed typographic structures into fragmented and graphic forms; but I also use old books and envelopes.

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: After three years of hoarding paper in boxes and suitcases I finally got over my hesitation of not wanting to "ruin" the paper and have actively been assembling for the last four years. As for what made me start it's hard to tell; I knew I didn't want to create magazine based collages. The end results needed to be abstract and unrecognizable forms—meaning and shapes deciphered over time as the body of work grew and the pieces had the ability to relate to each other as a whole.

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: I work half and half—creating my art and doing illustration and design work, with the occasional movie prop tossed into the mix.

Q: Do you have any formal art training?
A: Yes, I went to the Ontario College of Art & Design, where I studied illustration and design.
]]> http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/jacob_whibley.html http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/jacob_whibley.html interviews Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:23:56 -0500

David's work has a truly vintage quality. Maybe it's his dediction to handmade creations, or maybe it's the soft orange and brown hues reminiscent of the 70s. I think that's why I chose the subject image I did—an image of a "seventies chic" guy in a tan suit jacket holding a cigar and a duck model. Very cool work.

Name (Real or Screename): David Mizelle (or davidson)
URL (Blog, Website): http://www.davidmizellejr.com
Location (Where are you from?): I grew up in Norfolk, VA. Now I live in Richmond, VA.

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: Honest.

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: I prefer to use vintage magazines and books for my imagery. Time magazine from the 1940's and 50's is really great, as are childrens' books. Every now and then I'll print something out from the web, but not often. Since I don't use Photoshop, web images don't have the texture I need for my pieces. There's just something much more pleasing about using old papers. I also use Letraset transfer letters, pencils, transfer markers, and acrylic paints.

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: I started about 5 years ago. I was never good at drawing from life, I couldn't paint formally, but I've always had lots of magazines and books laying around. I was looking for a new outlet of art to try besides my photography.

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: I'm currently in school full time, so, no. I've worked just about every job imaginable though, from high rise window cleaner to chef to secretary.

Q: Do you have any formal art training?
A: I'm currently in the Graphic Design program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. I graduate the December of next year (hopefully).
]]> http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/david_mizelle.html http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/david_mizelle.html interviews Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:12:41 -0500

"This is an experiment, and you are part of it."

Last weekend, I went to a screening of 1000 Journals, a documentary by Andrea Kreuzhage. I am so glad I dragged myself out of bed at 11 in the morning on a Saturday to see this film's first Toronto screening at the Moving Image Film Festival (there were only about 8 people there)! I have known about this project for a while, as most of you probably have as well, but for some reason I am so much more intrigued by the project after watching the documentary. A woman who received one of the journals and was featured in the film was present to chat about it, which was an added bonus. And collage artist Julie Sadler (from Collage Clearinghouse) was in the film. Apparently, there were 60 hours (I think) of footage shot for the documentary, which was shaved down to 90 minutes.

The 1000 Journals project was launched in 2000, and is still ongoing. One thousand journals were left in random places or given to people, but as people started to hear about the project, they wanted to get involved. People were dying to get their hands on what seemed like so few journals, and so a website was started to help track the journals. Now, you can view scans of the them, which include writing, drawing, collage, and other things, and check up on their progress. Warning, this website can be very addictive!

Péter's work is bright and exciting. I love how he uses colour blocking and décollage, and how dissimilar these two techniques usually are. His technique of never being finished editing his collages is familiar with some of us, and I think some of the best collages can become even better with endless tinkering...

Name (Real or Screename): péter kupás
URL (Blog, Website): http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy-nasal-cavities/
Location (Where are you from?): Pécs, Hungary

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: Illegal bordercrossing between abstraction and reality, structure and meaning, originality and plagiarism.

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: Mostly found images from magazines and books, illustration, and leftovers from my own, or other peoples' work (like stickers, letters, shopping lists I find on the street, stuff I pick up from sidewalks).

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: Since 2001. I was writing poetry back then, and on some pages of my notebook, I glued together random images, and I liked it so much that I started experimenting with it, and created my first piece.

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: I'm also a graphic designer and an English teacher.

Q: Do you have any formal art training?
A: No.
]]> http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/peter_kupas.html http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/peter_kupas.html interviews Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:09:56 -0500

I know a lot of people love the work of Thomas Schostok (aka ths), and there is a reason why. His work is grungy and wonderful, so unplanned that every piece is very unique. I love the way he makes what looks like board books will collages. That is such a genius idea, and if you're doing handmade collages, that would be a great surface.

Name (Real or Screename): Thomas Schostok
URL (Blog, Website): www.ths.nu (Portfolio), www.cape-arcona.com (Fonts)
Location (Where are you from?): Essen, Germany

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: Trash urban warfare porn dirt style pop.

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: I developed to work on a PC if it comes to collage and art, now. Some time ago, I entirely worked "analog" without a computer. I usually get the material for the collage from things I found. I’m not very fixed about that.

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: I think I started creating collages 10 years ago. I worked for too long on a computer creating designs and such and searched for a way to get me away from a PC. So I got some sketchbooks and started to glue.

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: Primary, I’m a graphic designer.
]]> http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/thomas_schostok.html http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/thomas_schostok.html interviews Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:35:30 -0500

Bryanna's work is great, her work is different because she doesn't use magazines or other common materials. She prints out her images, which I think gives them the edgy "90s" zine quality that her work resembles to me. I don't know why, exactly—I think the graininess from the prints adds this bit of edge.

Name (Real or Screename): Bryanna Millis
URL (Blog, Website): www.bryannamillis.com, www.goingtogreatlengths.blogspot.com
Location (Where are you from?): I've lived in several North Eastern cities and am now in Washington, DC

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: Telling stories with layered landscapes

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: I used to use a lot of magazine cuttings but after I got a color printer I started altering and using photographs—mostly my own—printed on a variety of papers. I also use a lot of translucent/transparent papers to add layers without obscuring what lies beneath them.

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: I grew up in a house where we always made art, but I really started to discover my own voice in collage about 10 years ago. I kept finding that whenever I painted or drew anything I really wanted to cut it up, rearrange it, and add outside images/textures/colors. Then, while in graduate school in 2002, I started a series to illustrate some poems that I'd written and eventually left the poems by the wayside and focused on making collages.

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: I worked as a graphic designer for several years before making the transition to economics. Now I work in international economic development, which involves a lot of travel to places as diverse as Cambodia, Nigeria, and the West Bank. This has had a huge impact on the themes in my work.
]]> http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/bryanna_millis.html http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/bryanna_millis.html interviews Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:54:53 -0500 I have created a few groups (which could hopefully become "collage communities") in the name of "Notpaper" so that we can communicate easier. Anyone can join either group, and can post information and artwork freely. I may use content from the groups on the blog, so if there's anything you want to show me, you can do it there. (You can still email me as well).

Flickr Group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/notpaper/
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47397300545

Philip's collages seem so uncalculated and effortless, the combination of so many different materials and techniques is just stunning. You should also check out his work using old photographs and polaroids—it reminds me a lot of the "experimental film" book by Nick Tassone featured a little while ago.

Name (Real or Screename): Philip Harrell (aka no-thanks)
URL (Blog, Website): http://www.alightedlamp.com/
Location (Where are you from?): Dallas, Texas

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: Quick, messy, spontaneous, ambiguous collections of seemingly interesting parts.

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: I have this box that's been collecting left over scraps from mixed media works, or just stuff that was sitting on my desk or was in my pocket. This includes brochures, newspapers, magazine clippings, photographs, playing cards, shoe laces, paper clips, and other various paper products that I don't feel like throwing away. Pretty much anything that would be considered trash I try to use in some way first. I destroyed MICA's little catalog and used the parts of it in numerous collages. Tape is also one of my most favorite things to work with and is probably the most important element in my collages.

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: I made my first one about two years ago. I had been really enjoying the collages by my friend Alex Hamrick and decided one day I'd like to try collage and see what would happen. It wasn't until about a year later that I discovered clear plastic tape and found a process that I really enjoyed though.

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: I'm also a full time student. Really, I'm more a student than anything else.

Q: Do you have any formal art training?
A: I've got a little over two years of college art training.
]]> http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/philip_harrell.html http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/philip_harrell.html interviews Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:14:17 -0500

I love Mandi's collages, and I wish there were more! What I like is the colours she uses—natural browns and beautiful turquoise. She started out just scrapbooking, but any cut and paste technique can easily become collage.

Name (Real or Screename): Amanda (Mandi) Johnson
URL (Blog, Website): candimandi.typepad.com
Location (Where are you from?): North Canton, Ohio

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: An eclectic mix of scrapbooking and art journaling.

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: I like to make mini journals with clippings from vintage magazines, but when I can't get my hands on the old stuff, I like to cut out graphic patterns, interesting typography, and evocative photographs from modern magazines. I also like to use my own photography and found objects. (I participate in a blog called theartisfound.blogspot.com).

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: I started scrapbooking five years ago, but the hobby recently turned into more art journaling that scrapbooking.

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: I am an interior design student and have taken a few graphic design classes as a part of my program requirements.

Q: Do you have any formal art training?
A: My brother is a graphic designer, and we hash our design ideas at times. But the only formal training I have had is a couple of graphic design classes at the Meyers School of Art at the University of Akron.
]]> http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/mandi_johnson.html http://www.notpaper.net/2008/11/mandi_johnson.html interviews Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:30:04 -0500

Cay's work is meticulous and precise. I love how he categorizes his works on his website, the collages in "landscape," "portrait," "nude," etc. Collage doesn't always make the ranks in the "fine art" world, but it is definitely a much stronger technique now than it was in the past. His beautiful nudes are just tiny little glimpses of skin.

Name (Real or Screename): Cay Schröder
URL (Blog, Website): www.cayschroder.com
Location (Where are you from?): Amsterdam, Netherlands

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: An effort to visualize and reconstruct tingling thoughts.

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: From a Medical encyclopedia, to Vogue Italy. And from guides on trees to naughty magazines...

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: For about 3 years now. I started out as an industrial designer creating objects serving a ‘purpace’ within daily life (objects known as chairs, lamps etc). Therefore I had to use a lot of material. Over the years i noticed that a ‘function’, or the use of a lot of material wasn’t necessary to trigger and excite the mind. Generating incentives by association is more than enough, or as K.Hara (Designing design, 2007) put it:

"To understand something is not to be able to define it or describe it. Instead, taking something that we think we already know and making it unknown thrills us afresh with its reality and deepens our understanding of it."

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: Solo artist.

Q: Do you have any formal art training?
A: Rietveld Academy (BA) and Sandberg Institute Amsterdam (MA).
]]> http://www.notpaper.net/2008/10/cay_schroder.html http://www.notpaper.net/2008/10/cay_schroder.html interviews Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:50:00 -0500 I've been pretty busy this week so far (volunteering, getting a new job and being a student), but I'll be back very soon. I promise! I have a lot of interviews waiting to be posted, so stay tuned later this week.

I have a new personal blog, too. So if you're wondering why I'm being so neglectful, you can find me over there as well.

Also, if you want to know the status of the book, it's going pretty well. So far we've got 20 completed entries, which isn't bad. It's a 40+ page book so far! I may actually be looking for sponsors for the project, if anyone is interested.