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Margarete Miller Creating art from vintage sources

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Art journal pages on index cards

How art saved my life

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February 25, 2019 By //  by Margarete Miller 14 Comments

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a collage-art, 2-page spread in an art journal consisting of book pages, washi tape, the color red, and large numerals

That’s a bold statement, isn’t it? I’m not sure I can say that art saved my life precisely, but it certainly saved my sanity. Ten years ago my life was in upheaval, and my physical and mental wellbeing were on very shaky ground. What happened? I had a baby.

It’s true, that nothing can completely prepare you for having a baby. You can talk to friends and family members who have kids, read books, watch videos, whatever; but having a child is an entirely personal experience because of our own individuality and that, mixed with hormones, lack of sleep, and anxiety that you aren’t doing things correctly, creates a self you are likely not familiar with. At least, that’s how it was with me–I became a different person. My focus was entirely on my child, naturally, and over the months I felt like I lost my mental and physical self more and more.

The need for a hobby

What kind of hobby could I do at home? I needed something that could occupy my thoughts beyond baby. Something that could help me find myself again. I started with sewing. I’d always wanted to learn. My mother and grandmother were proficient sewers. I bought a machine and took lessons, and after a few months I realized I hated it. Why should I spend all that time and effort making a piece of clothing when I could go to my local department store and find something nice for $20? Nope. Sewing wasn’t for me.

Rainbow colored petals of a dresden "quilt"
One thing I did enjoy making was the dresden flower for a table covering. I made this rainbow one for my grandmother and she was so proud of me.

I started looking at pictures of altered books online. The idea of altered books was a revelation to me. My whole life I had been taught never to write or mark in a book, to treat books with respect, and to take care of them for someone else to eventually enjoy. The initial idea of drawing or creating something on a book page was sacrilege and I think part of it must have been the shock value that really made me sit up and notice altered art as something I’d like to try.

A watercolor painting of a garden done in the pages of a book
There’s still something shocking to me about altering the pages of a book.

As a bonus, I loved the idea of opening a book, creating art on printed pages, and then closing the book and putting it away when I was done.

An altered borrowers card from a discarded library book
Old library books from used book sales make the best altered books.

What kind of art could I do?

I’ve always fantasized about being an artist. I could imagine standing in front of a canvas on an easel and painting something, or opening a blank sketchbook and drawing something. I’ve even tried, but I feel like I’m not good – at all. I know things come with practice, but often I had no patience to wait for the reward of lessons paying off. Did I have the time to take painting lessons? Did I have the space for an easel and canvases? Not really. Maybe one day I’ll take painting lessons. I’d still like to try.

I wanted to do something with art, but hadn’t tried any kind of art since high school. Here are the questions I was asking myself while looking for an art-related hobby.

At a practical level:

  • What could I do at home?
  • What doesn’t take up too much space?
  • What could I clean up and put away relatively quickly?
  • What doesn’t require a lot of prep to get started?
  • What doesn’t require me to buy lots of art supplies?
  • What doesn’t require me to take lessons?
  • What kind of art could I do in the few free moments I had sprinkled through my day?

At a holistic level:

  • What’s going to bring me peace?
  • What’s going to bring me joy?
  • What’s going to help me find my inner voice again?
  • What’s going to help me express myself?

For practicality, collage art fits these parameters pretty well. Time was my biggest constraint with taking care of small children, and with collage art, it’s not necessary to complete a collage in a single sitting. Even if you can’t do the physical part of collaging papers, I found I could be thinking about how and where to gather pieces, or what kind of substrate would I use, and that was how I used my art time–in mental preparation.

Lace and a doily complement some vintage-inspired papers, along with some vintage buttons
Just the activity of gathering materials that complement my originally chosen papers, is an artistic mind at work.

I could also leave a collage half done and come back to it later. It was so liberating to realize that. I didn’t have to worry about paint drying unused or wasting product because I had to stop to go feed a child. With collage art, the only thing I needed to do was to remember to put the cap back on the glue stick.

Holistically, collage art did bring me peace once I started to improve and gain confidence. I like the feeling of having completed a project, even a tiny collage on a playing card. I feel joy when I take random, bits and composing them into something that’s interesting–even pretty or beautiful–to look at. My inner voice? Yes, I definitely have found it. I listen to it when it guides me through the creating process.

A collage done on a playing card
This collage, on the face of a playing card, consists of 5 things: book page, a piece of map, a rubber stamping, a rose, and a postage stamp.

Simply creating doesn’t help me express myself. Finding joy in the process of creating enables me express myself. The result is not what makes me happy (though that is a part of it), it’s the process of doing that brings the greatest joy. Actually, I’m not even sure what I am self-expressing when I’m creating a collage, but maybe that doesn’t matter. Finding a way to take something from within and turn it outward is amazing, and that’s what collage art has enabled me to do. So yes, art has changed my life. It saved my sanity when needed it, and it has enabled me to find myself–an even better self than I was before.

But now what? I feel like I’ve been bestowed this knowledge, as if I have discovered first-hand how creativity can change mental well-being, and I want to share it with others to help them find that joy in creating. By sharing some of the processes and techniques I’ve learned, I’d like to help people find ways to express themselves through making collages.

So I will start with sharing my art through my website and through my book. If my enthusiasm is not coming across in the posts that I write and the photos that I share, then I’m not doing it right. I hope you can clearly see that I love what I do and see that I want to inspire others to create too.

a collaged envelope decorates the book cover of a collage-art book
Choosing the photos for this book was such an enjoyable task. It’s all about ideas and inspiration.

Filed Under: altered Art, arts & crafts, collage art, personal

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dawn C.

    February 26, 2019 at 7:42 am

    Thank you for this personal post. For me, creating is essential to mental health. I love your art!

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      February 26, 2019 at 1:09 pm

      Thank you, Dawn 🙂 It’s absolutely essential to me too. As a matter of fact, I don’t know how I lived so long without it.

      Reply
  2. Leslie Speers

    February 27, 2019 at 10:35 am

    I have been creating since I can remember. When I was sick, i always got to take a large pad of paper, magazines, scissors, glue, and crayons, along with my creativity, to make something. I usually drew a very large house and filled it with things i found in those magazines. I look back now and realize those were my first collaging days. I too think art in any form is very healing. Thank you for sharing! ~ L

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      February 27, 2019 at 10:40 am

      It’s nice that you’ve got those memories to connect yourself to art in your past, Leslie. Do you still have any of those old creations? It would be so neat to be able to see them again and think about how things in your arting have stayed the same, and how they have changed. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  3. Pamela Cregeen

    February 27, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    “My inner voice? Yes, I definitely have found it. I listen to it when it guides me through the creating process.”
    Margarete, you put into words exactly how I feel when doing collage art. Thank you so much for giving me the inspiration to discover this hobby/obsession and for continuing to do so.

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      February 27, 2019 at 7:48 pm

      That’s so kind of you to say, Pamela, and you are very welcome. I’m so glad you’re on the collage-art ride with us, through the group. It’s hard to believe you are somewhat new at it because your collages have a sophistication of someone who has been doing this kind of art for a while. You’ve definitely got the feel for it. Thanks for your sharing and enthusiasm!

      Reply
  4. Pamela Gerard

    February 27, 2019 at 2:45 pm

    Lovely and courageous post. Some new moms are afraid to admit they are overwhelmed and suffer in silence. I’m so glad you found your passion. I do truly believe art saves lives.

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      February 27, 2019 at 7:49 pm

      Yes, I actually think I first heard that expression “art saves lives” from you. I, too, believe it entirely.

      Reply
  5. Julie Welsh

    February 27, 2019 at 3:28 pm

    A lovely post Margarete. I do not have children but I know that it is not an easy thing and as you say a very personal experience. So happy you found your way to collage – you create such wonderful pieces. I dabbled in many artistic efforts over the years but they were secondary to my corporate life. Ten years ago, I found generous friends who introduced me to mixed media art starting with ATCs and vintage gluebooks. I’ve not looked back and the fact that I am still doing it now tells me I have found my niche. Now that I am retired I am finding opportunities to teach and love it when I see students have their ah ha art moments. Thanks again for all you are doing to spread the love : )

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      February 27, 2019 at 7:43 pm

      I’m glad to know that about you, Julie! It’s interesting how you found your way through mixed media art. You are doing so much to “spread the love” too and I really love your work. I enjoy your sense of humor in your zines 🙂

      Reply
  6. Barbara

    March 1, 2019 at 1:38 pm

    I Just love your work Margarete. Having always been interested in art but not an “artist” as I was taught it to mean; proficient in drawing, painting, sketching etc. I was not an artist!
    However my intro to art and creating began with creating cards using rubber stamps and it grew from there. I am now creating all kinds of art from altered books to collage art! Margarete, your work inspires me so. Diagnosed with Parkinson just recently, its now so important to keep active and creating gives me peace and joy! Thank you for your inspiration, I look forward to your new creations.

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      March 1, 2019 at 3:15 pm

      Wow, Barbara. Thank you for your inspiring words! I’m so glad you tapped into your creativity, right at the time that you needed it the most. All the best, Margarete

      Reply
  7. Sally

    December 21, 2019 at 8:49 pm

    Thank you for this personal post, Margarete. I recently found your YT channel and really enjoyed the way you discussed your process. You really make collage art an accessible hobby and passion as you’re teaching it to others. I came to the idea of starting my own collage art journey as a way to find myself again, and as an outlet that allowed my thoughts and feelings to be drawn out. I look forward to seeing and reading more of your work!

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      December 28, 2019 at 12:36 pm

      How wonderful, Sally, that you have begun your own art journey. I’m so glad that I’ve helped to encourage your creativity. I hope that you really enjoy the process of creating in addition to what you produce. Enjoying the journey is often more important than reaching the destination. 🙂

      Reply

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