How to Make a Surreal Collage with Vintage Magazines: Slow Art Making, Getting Unstuck 

The way I like to make a seamless combination between two images is by tearing the paper. In order to preserve the image you want on top, you have to tear by holding the image in one hand and tearing downwards with your dominant hand. It takes a little finessing but the end result is perfect. You can also place the image on the edge of the table and then with tweezers you can tear away small pieces off the edge. I have some collages that you simply cannot tell even when looking up close that they were pieced together from multiple images.

I love watching you deconstruct and reconstruct. This feels relaxing and soothing to my own brain

I really loved hearing your entire thought process!

Many of the old books I have came from library sales and thrift stores so I have library stamps or school names in them. Not stolen items, at least not by me! 😄This was fun and interesting. I enjoy seeing the process. It's like putting a puzzle together, although sometimes I get decision fatigue trying to decide which elements I should or shouldn't use.

I love the idea of embedding objects into the brain. Thanks for the inspiration Flanzella. I like listening to your rationale and why/how you piece it all together.

Just found you. I'm so thankful that you shared your process and I appreciate every comment as you go. How enlightening! Thank you

Black cat sneaking a peek

I really liked the composition you started with, the green I felt tied it together. I kind of lost the drift of the piece with all the little bits. I enjoyed the video though, so thanks. I like to scan stuff, it takes away that feeling of "I don't want to waste this good bit".

I really enjoyed watching and listening to your creative process. Your finished collage absolutely reflects your ongoing thought, ideas and changes! That’s an artist at work (and play)! My favorite collages to make are surreal ones. I never create them with any intent of meaning at all. Yet, when I return to those collages later - weeks or months or even longer - I often see meaning(s) in the creations - so fascinating! To me, that’s such a gift of and from the artistic process and experience - the present creative joy as well as the continuing insight! TFS! ❤️ Kathleen

Wow you put glue book creating into a whole new environment. I'm not sure that's the right word but it truly has a different aspect than what I have been creating. I really do think it will help to think of my Creations as surreal. Love this idea thank you. Blessings from New Mexico

That fussy cutting drives me crazy but also therapeutic.

Gorgeous, thanku😊

awe, Fang is adorable. 🥰 Good Collage. 😃👍

Leah this is a really inspiring video,I love surrealism and always have,it infuses a lot of my work,but it's great that you share your take on surrealism and what it means to you and how it inspires you. Great to see you creating a piece in real time and talking about your thought process as you put it together and how you try different elements to build a composition.Sometimes pieces are completed there and then but others need more time and maybe coming back to after time away and comig back with fresh eyes and new ideas, as you share with us here. I think scannong pieces gives you a back up or 'plan B' but also allows you to create other versions of your original idea. So happy to see that your July Prompt list was your starting point as well. (matt) I love that Fang is your sleepy studio muse! Have made a start using the July Prompts myself.

Sweet!

I really enjoyed your video, and subscribed right away... Thank you for sharing your process! ❤

I really appreciate you sharing your workflow and process, and how to make the best use of the images despite the anxiety and analysis paralysis. I have started to scan all my paper resources, before and after cutting just to reassure my restless mind that everything will be okay 😅 Watching you work through the different ideas, images, concepts, etc and trying to reconcile those with all the different fundamental art principles and elements to ensure a well rounded piece 😊 it's very thoughtful and helpful for others. Thanks you, Leah.

A few ideas for a name for your Skiing Collage: Cross Country Scoop - Ski Lift - Powder Day

Fascinating to watch. I loved coming across your channel. ❤

Hi Leah. Thank you so much for all your invaluable instruction. I’m wondering if you mat any of your pieces? I am matting mine for sale in a shop. Mat plus backing then in a cellophane bag. Do you attach the backing to the mat itself? And if so how do you do it? Thank you SO much!!! Susan.

When i make collage, my friends ask so what is the meaning of your art and sometimes i don't have any, it is just cute visually and i like it myself, so my question is DOES COLLAGE HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIFIC MEANING?

Can i ask you please to share the link you bought your tripod? Thanks

I’m just starting to do collage so it’s great to listen to your thought process. I didn’t understand the reason for scanning. Is it in case you want to reuse those pieces in another collage. Did you also scan the finished product and, if so, why? Sorry if too many questions.

I WOULD NOT PUT THE LITTLE PEOPLE

I enjoyed the creative selection process. Also, I thought the bird brain image (timestamp 19:39) was fun.🥸 As a child, I and my siblings were given tattered and old books containing library and school stamps by teachers. My mom still has most of them so maybe that's case with the ones you've found. As for the video, I know absolutely nothing about collage, surreal or otherwise. I find defining art difficult and can only recognize popular pieces, such the Girl with the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer. With that disclaimer...I like the top portion of the collage best. I think the dark starry night complements the framed landscape, sky divers, moon and portrait well. However, the clocks seems to prevent the composition's amalgamation. The addition of short geometric lines in the bottom foreground feel unbalanced and the size of the clocks seem odd paired with the other elements, where as the insect merges seamlessly. I think this may be due to the clocks pushing the brain into the background. BTW, the bird legs are cool! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜