5 Steps to Creating A Hymnbook Collage

Creating a hymnbook collage is easy and is a beautiful way to repurpose a used hymnbook or old book and also share it with someone else. Hymnbooks can usually be found in used bookstores, the older and more worn the better. Pages can be left as is or dyed in india inks or acrylic inks and cut or torn to become part of the final piece you are making. Using a specific hymn or passage from a book that is precious to someone else can make a card or framed piece even more inspiring and personal as a gift.

Materials

A used hymn book or old book, Modge podge ( I prefer matte) or a mixed media glue, Mixed Media paper, various other printed paper, tissue paper, acrylic paint and or india ink or acrylic ink, various scissors, punches or rubber stamps and ink are optional.

Background

Start with making your background first. In the example above, I chose one hymn page. Mix a small amount of acrylic paint with about 70% water. Doing this makes the paint opaque enough so that when it is spread onto the hymnbook page, the words and notes still show through. You can experiment with just one layer of a single color of diluted paint as I did here, or add several with a brush or a sponge.

Design Elements

Using decorative scissors or simply tearing, layer several different-sized circles on top of each other using more painted hymn book pages or other colors of paper scraps. A bit of printed transparent tissue paper at the bottom added interest. I liked adding a bit of black and white dotted scrapbook paper to make the notes on the page and the rest of the design more cohesive. Using di-cuts, stencils or tracing other parts for your composition and the possibilities are endless for what you can add in this stage of the project. I formed the stems and leaves by simply tearing another page of the hymnbook that I had covered with diluted green paint.

Composition

Once you have your design planned, experiment a bit by moving the pieces until you have your desired composition. I use either mixed media or modge podge to assemble the piece and prefer matte over gloss. Enjoy playing in this stage. I think we miss out on so much as adults by thinking collage is for children, or art for that matter but it is for all of us. It’s my hope that in creating a hymnbook collage you connect with the child inside you who is still an artist.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

Picasso

Frame your collage

The wonderful thing about building a collage this way is that if there is something you are not happy with, it can be covered up. Once you are done covering up mistakes, it is complete and it is time to frame it! You will be surprised how finished a collage can look once it is in a frame.

Share your hymnbook art

For a personal way to share your Hymnbook Collage, try using this same technique for cards. For an example of collage made with dried acrylic paint pieces see How An Artist Thinks About Creating Something New.