Waste not, want art.
Techniques & tools to help you create altered art.
Contents at a Glance
| Altered Doll |
| Beginning Techniques |
- Lisa Vollrath
- Lisa Vollrath does a lot of altered art, and her how-to pages are worth the read.
- Cigar Box Purse
- Shows basic altered art techniques for three dimentional objects.
| Stamps |
TIP
While stamps are useful (and fun), the ones you buy are mass produced. Make stamps a little more unique by gently roughing the edges of the lines with sandpaper or an emory board, or use an exacto knife to very carefully remake or remove parts of your stamps.
While stamps are useful (and fun), the ones you buy are mass produced. Make stamps a little more unique by gently roughing the edges of the lines with sandpaper or an emory board, or use an exacto knife to very carefully remake or remove parts of your stamps.
Melissa & Doug Alphabet Stamp Set
Letters like you find on old wooden building blocks.
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/02/2009) 
| Altered Book |
Fetching RSS feed... please stand by| Sources |
Found objects are an intregal part of altered art. Sure, you can buy faux vintage images and metal whatnots, but the beauty of altered art is in re-using otherwise discarded materials: old magazines, broken jewelry and dolls, fabric scraps. The best place to search for used bits and pieces (outside of your own attic) is thrift stores.
Esty is another source, and a place to sell your altered art as well; unlike eBay, they handle only handmade or vintage items.
Esty is another source, and a place to sell your altered art as well; unlike eBay, they handle only handmade or vintage items.
Bits & Pieces
- Paper Samplers
- Need just a little handmade paper, flocked paper, Japanese, Italian, or polka dotted paper? Try a paper sampler from Print Mojo.
| More Techniques |
- Faux Peeled Paint
- Add an old, peeling-layers look.
- "Add A Little Rust" Tutorial.
- Not metal? Not a problem.
| Scissors |
TIP
Scissors and craft knives are a vital tool when altering art. If you have tools for cutting paper, use them only for cutting paper to retain their sharpness longer.
Scissors and craft knives are a vital tool when altering art. If you have tools for cutting paper, use them only for cutting paper to retain their sharpness longer.
X-Acto X5082 Basic Knife Set with Wood Chest
Amazon Price: $16.66 (as of 12/02/2009)
| Altered Objects |
| Advanced Techniques |
- Propping Up The Mythos
- Learn how to make faux ancient tomes and artifacts.
- Polaroid Transfer
- How to use the emulsion from a polaroid to create prints.
- Gold Leaf
- Flat & raised gilding.
| Copper Leaf |
TIP
If you plan on gilding, consider leafing other than gold; copper has a softer look and verdigres nicely.
If you plan on gilding, consider leafing other than gold; copper has a softer look and verdigres nicely.
Copper Leaf Book of 25 Leaves each leaf 5-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 12/02/2009)
| Inspirations |
- Upcycle Art
- Pittsburgh recycling craft projects.
- Recyclers World: Collectibles
- Classifieds for recycling collectibles & memorabilia. You could find that one final ephemera that will pull your altered art piece together.
| Digital Altered Art |
Art may also be altered digitally. Elements may be used from multiple sources or derived from the original piece itself.
| Glue & Adhesives |
TIP
Use pH neutral, archival glues and adhesives.
Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.
Use pH neutral, archival glues and adhesives.
| In The End |
Someday, the altered art you make today will be old, faded, falling apart, and someone else will salvage the bits and use them in new altered art.
It's the best that any piece of art can hope for.
~~O~~
It's the best that any piece of art can hope for.
~~O~~
by JaZilla
Hillbilly, photographer, poet, artist, mom.
See my designs and art on t-shirts and gifts at JaZilla ~ Pop Culture Clothing & Gifts.
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