Posts Tagged: torn paper collage
Throw Back Thursday: Fox Torn Paper Collage
This was probably my very first animal ‘portrait’ torn paper collage! I made it over twenty years ago and it’s spent most of that time hanging near a window in a brightly lit office. Considering the less-than-ideal environment where it’s spent its life, I’m actually pretty impressed that it still looks as good as it does.
Really though, I suppose the important thing is that it’s spent the last 20 years being enjoyed instead of stuffed in a dark corner somewhere!
All artwork will deteriorate over time, that’s just the nature of things. However, here is some advice on how to display your torn paper collage pieces in a way that will provide the longest period of enjoyment:
- The greatest danger is light, which will cause fading of the inks used in the magazines and catalogs that were used to create the piece. Please avoid exposure to direct sunlight or prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting.
- Due to the delicate surface texture, your torn paper collage artwork is best displayed framed under UV filtering glass with archival quality mats.
- Keep your artwork in conditions that feel comfortable to you—avoid storing the artwork in very hot places, such as an attic or garage. Also avoid very damp areas, like basements, which can lead to mold growth.
If you have any questions about how to best preserve or display your torn paper collage artwork, please don’t hesitate to contact me here or by email at tamara@tamarajaeger.com. I’m always happy to help!
Want to keep updated and see more of what I’m working on? Sign up for my mailing list here and get a totally FREE digital download of a tiger linocut print. (I promise not to be spammy with my emails—I hate that too!)
Master of Mystery: Cat Pet Portrait
This handsome guy is actually a little different from my regular pet portrait subjects. He’s a feral stray cat that hangs around my parents’ house begging for food. Not the friendliest stray I’ve encountered, he goes by the name Harry. I suspect that name was given to him in reference to his long fur (Hairy!).
Despite being pretty skittish, as most feral cats are, Harry deigned to pose nicely for me the last time I visited my parents. And so I created this worshipful masterpiece to properly immortalize his feline magnificence (after all, he’s a cat—that’s how they all think about themselves, right?!).
Would you like a custom portrait of your own pet? You can check out the process here or email me at tamara@tamarajaeger.com with any questions!
Want to keep updated and see more of what I’m working on? Sign up for my mailing list here and get a totally FREE digital download of a tiger linocut print. (I promise not to be spammy with my emails—I hate that too!)
Hope: Custom Dog Portrait
This is Hope, an Australian Shepherd, and she’s a very special dog. As you can see from the portrait, she’s a service dog and she makes her owner’s life so much easier every day. Hope was the one of the first service dogs trained specifically for cluster headaches!
Like other service animals, Hope also spends time “off duty,” but this portrait is intended to commemorate the selfless service she performs daily at her job.
Would you like a custom portrait of your own pet? They make a great pet memorial or gift! You can check out the process here or email me at tamara@tamarajaeger.com. I’m happy to answer any questions you have!
Want to keep updated and see more of what I’m working on? Sign up for my mailing list here and get a totally FREE digital download of a tiger linocut print. (I promise not to be spammy with my emails—I hate that too!)
Mirage: Custom Bird Pet Portrait
It’s not all just cats and dogs! I’m happy to create a special portrait of your cherished pet, regardless of species. Today, I’d like to tell you a bit about another custom bird portrait I created a few years ago.
Mirage is an African Grey parrot who is about 20 years old. He was acquired as a hand-fed baby and like many African Greys, he’s definitely a one-person bird! Mirage can talk and will sometimes make up his own words for things. He loves listening to music and enjoys watching children’s television programs. When he was a baby, Mirage loved watching Teletubbies but as he got older, he became more interested in programs that are geared more for older children, like Sesame Street!
Would you like a custom portrait of your own pet? They make a great pet memorial or gift! You can check out the process here or email me at tamara@tamarajaeger.com. I’m happy to answer any questions you have!
Want to keep updated and see more of what I’m working on? Sign up for my mailing list here and get a totally FREE digital download of a tiger linocut print. (I promise not to be spammy with my emails—I hate that too!)
Torn Paper Collage FAQs
1. Why do you make your collages on paper?
There are several reasons. One is just personal preference—I like the way the portraits look when matted and framed. It gives them a clean, professional, and elegant look. The primary reason, however, is related to my training as a museum conservator: paper-on-paper avoids any mismatch in the physical properties, such as response to humidity changes that can occur when there are layers of different materials in contact with each other, and this can help prolong the life of the artwork.
2. Why don’t you apply a varnish or clear topcoat?
Again, this is related to my training as a museum conservator. All varnishes or other materials that can be used as a topcoat will yellow over time and due to the nature of the artwork, the topcoat cannot be removed. This is very different from varnishing an oil painting, for instance. Oil painting varnish also yellows and darkens over time, but it is designed to be removed and replaced without damaging the underlying painting.
While many of the modern acrylic varnishes do have good longevity, I feel it is better for the artwork over the long term to not add any materials that I know can never be removed and will eventually cause yellowing or other visual changes to the piece.
3. How do I care for my torn paper collage artwork?
The greatest danger is light, which will cause fading of the inks used in the magazines and catalogs that were used to create the piece. Please avoid exposure to direct sunlight or prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting.
Due to the delicate surface texture, your torn paper collage artwork is best displayed framed under UV filtering glass with archival quality mats.
Keep your artwork in conditions that feel comfortable to you—avoid storing the artwork in very hot places, such as an attic or garage. Also avoid very damp areas, like basements, which can lead to mold growth.
4. How long does it take?
Torn paper collage is not a quick process! Each paper fragment is hand torn and individually glued in place. Because of this, your custom portrait can take up to 4-6 weeks, depending on the size and the complexity of the subject.
5. Do you only do dog portraits? What other animals can I get a custom portrait of?
I can make custom portraits of any pet and am happy to do so! Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, horses, farm animals—you name it. You can check out some of my wildlife torn paper collages here to see some of the other animals I’ve worked with.
6. How do I order a custom pet portrait?
When you place your order, I will require high-quality digital images of your pet. Try to provide photos that really capture the personality of your pet.
I require full payment to start work on your pet portrait. I accept payment via PayPal, Venmo, cashier’s (bank) check or money order. You can also place your order directly in my website shop, here.
Once I receive your order and photos, we can clarify any remaining details of the portrait: subject(s), size, colors, etc. I can also give you an estimate of when the portrait will be completed. Portraits can take 4-6 weeks to complete, but if you have a specific occasion or timetable you need the portrait for, please let me know.
Before I ship the completed piece, I will email you a digital image for your approval.
Feel free to contact me via email at tamara@tamarajaeger.com or by filling out the request form on my website, here.
7. I have professional photos of my pet. Can you use those?
No, it’s a violation of the photographer’s copyright. It’s much simpler and easier for me to use photos that you took yourself. They don’t have to be professional looking—they just have to clearly show your pet and, ideally, give me a good feel for their personality.
The only situation where I would consider using professional photos is where it is not possible to take new photos of your pet and professional photos are the only ones that exist (i.e. for a memorial portrait of a deceased pet). In this case I would require written permission from the photographer before I could use their images as reference photos for your custom pet portrait.
8. I still have questions!
Feel free to contact me by filling out this form or by email at tamara@tamarajaeger.com. I’m happy to answer any other questions you have!
Want to keep updated and see more of what I’m working on? Sign up for my mailing list here and get a totally FREE digital download of a tiger linocut print. (I promise not to be spammy with my emails—I hate that too!)
Tango: Custom Bird Pet Portrait
It’s not all just cats and dogs! I’m happy to create a special portrait of your cherished pet, regardless of species. Today, I’d like to tell you a bit about a custom bird portrait I created a couple years ago.
Tango is an Orange-Wing Amazon parrot who is about 40 years old. He’s a beloved family pet, though he’s definitely a one-person bird! He likes sunflower seeds and peanuts and hanging out with his owner.
Would you like a custom portrait of your own pet? They make a great pet memorial or gift! You can check out the process here or email me at tamara@tamarajaeger.com. I’m happy to answer any questions you have!
Want to keep updated and see more of what I’m working on? Sign up for my mailing list here and get a totally FREE digital download of a tiger linocut print. (I promise not to be spammy with my emails—I hate that too!)
“Ranger” Custom Dog Pet Portrait
Ranger was a mixed breed dog that was taken in as a stray by some of my neighbors many years ago. I only met Ranger a few years ago when I moved to my current house in Ohio. He was a really nice dog who put up with my over-the-top Grendel’s antics on an almost daily basis.
Grendel and Ranger used to go for walks together frequently and Grendel was always looking to see if Ranger was outside whenever we passed his house. Ranger eventually lost most of his sight but he would usually still go around the block if Grendel was there to help guide him.
Sadly, Ranger passed away earlier this year at roughly 17 years old, but I’m pleased that his owners not only had a chance to enjoy the portrait while he was alive, but also that they still have something special to remember him by.
Would you like a custom portrait of your own pet? They also make a great pet memorial or gift! You can check out the process here or email me at tamara@tamarajaeger.com. I’m happy to answer any questions you have!
Want to keep updated and see more of what I’m working on? Sign up for my mailing list here and get a totally FREE digital download of a tiger linocut print. (I promise not to be spammy with my emails—I hate that too!)
Art Techniques: Torn Paper Collage
Today I’m going to walk you through my process for creating a torn paper collage, like my custom pet portraits.
- Draw out the design on paper.
I use acid-free artist’s drawing paper drawing paper in varying sizes. My favorite is 9 inches x 12 inches, since this gives a nice, intimate-sized piece that still allows for excellent detail. It also doesn’t feel like an endless marathon of collaging, like larger pieces can. Large collages do provide a nice, bold statement though, so that’s something to keep in mind when deciding on the size.
- Select pieces of magazines and catalogs with desired/suitable colors.
I have a big stack of magazines and catalogs in my studio, so I have plenty of material to choose from. Since I primarily make animals and pet portraits, I look for large areas of natural and neutral colors like grays, tans, browns, white and black. Blues and greens make excellent background colors, so I also focus on collecting catalogs that contain these. The texture of the paper is somewhat important—some catalog papers don’t tear well, which makes it difficult to tear the tiny, precise fragments that I use in my collages. Some of my favorite catalogs are the LL Bean and Restoration Hardware ones. Those are great for finding the colors use a lot of!
- Apply adhesive to a section of the drawing.
I use the Zig/EK Tools 2-Way Glue, which I previously reviewed here. It’s acid-free and archival and easy to apply in precise areas. I’ve tried several other acid-free scrapbooking adhesives, but the two-way glue is by far my favorite. I use the wide, chisel tip for covering large areas and the fine-point pen or fine-point chisel tip for adding glue to smaller areas or next to areas of the piece I’ve already completed. The glue remains tacky after drying so if I misjudge how long a section will take me, the paper fragments will still stick.
- Carefully hand-tear the magazine pieces to desired shape and size.
I carefully select and tear each and every paper fragment by hand. Every. Single. One. Whiskers are incredibly tricky to tear by hand, if you were wondering. I’m constantly trying different techniques to hand-tear thin, delicate whisker strips. If the whiskers are too thick and bulky, they can really detract from the overall look of the piece.
- Place the paper pieces onto the adhesive
I place the paper fragment using fine-point tweezers. You can use your fingers, but they get sticky very quickly, making it hard to get the paper fragments to stick to the substrate and not your fingers. Also, I typically use such tiny fragments that it’s nearly impossible to place them accurately with my fingers. I don’t remember where I got my tweezers but I think I should look into getting a second (and maybe a third) pair—I’d be completely lost if mine were ever missing or damaged!
- Repeat steps 3 through 5.
Over and over and over. This is definitely Not a fast process. Each collage takes many, many hours of work. It’s also important to take frequent breaks to give your hands, back, eyes and brain a break. I don’t recommend multi-hour marathon collage sessions.
- Success! You now have a completed torn paper collage masterpiece!
So, are you ready to give torn paper collage a try? Drop any questions below. I’m happy to help.
Is making a torn paper collage totally not your thing but you still want a piece with that unique look and feel? Check out the pieces I have for sale here.
Would you like a custom portrait of your own pet? You can check out the ordering process here or email me at tamara@tamarajaeger.com with any questions!
Want to keep updated and see more of what I’m working on? Sign up for my mailing list here and get a totally FREE digital download of a tiger linocut print. (I promise not to be spammy with my emails—I hate that too!)
* Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you.
Grendel: Custom Papillon Dog Pet Portrait
This is a custom pet portrait I created of a Papillon dog. Grendel is actually my dog, but the portrait was for my sister, who was his breeder and hand-raised him as a puppy (Grendel’s mother was…not very maternal so he had to be bottle-fed).
This portrait was intended to go with a pair of pet portraits I previously made of my sister’s two Papillons, Emmie and Windi. The intent was to create a piece that visually went well with the other two portraits while still expressing Grendel’s unique personality. I enjoyed the challenge of creating a piece that felt harmonious when paired with two other pieces that were created several years earlier.
Would you like a custom portrait of your own pet? You can check out the process here or email me at tamara@tamarajaeger.com with any questions!
Want to keep updated and see more of what I’m working on? Sign up for my mailing list here and get a totally FREE digital download of a tiger linocut print. (I promise not to be spammy with my emails—I hate that too!)
New Artwork: Coyote Torn Paper Collage
I recently finished this piece, titled “The Trickster,” which depicts a coyote from the Akron Zoo. Of course, if you want to consider it a wolf, that’s fine too. The Akron Zoo has both coyotes and red wolves. Their habitats are right next to each other and they look Very similar. I even overheard one of the zoo workers telling someone that she Still can’t tell them apart!
Coyotes are actually quite interesting creatures, though they’ve got a bad reputation these days since they’ve started to migrate into suburbs and more urban areas due to territory loss. They live in family groups but frequently hunt alone. The coyote is a common character in many Native American cultures and his nature varies from a helpful teacher and creator to a greedy, reckless and arrogant villain to a clever trickster.
What does a coyote mean to you? Is he a nuisance or a harmless trickster? Have you ever encountered one? Tell me below!