September 6, 2017

DIY Colorful Collage Wall Art

My brother and I were the only kids in our pre-school class that knew how to use scissors. And my mom was very proud of that fact.

It’s true, I’ve been making things since I was a kid and I’m so thankful for parents who also fostered my creativity. Years later, after I “graduated” to big kid scissors I received a pair of hand-me-down scissors from my dad. The scissors I received were the now oh-so-iconic Fiskars Orange-handled Scissors that are at home in artist studios, offices, kitchen drawers and even the Museum of Modern Art. My pair were my dad’s old work scissors from 1987—a year after I was born.

My dad is a printing expert and these plastic-handled scissors, which he engraved his name into the blade, were the scissors he used daily to cut pre-press printing film. Back in the day before things were digital, each image was transferred onto the printing plates via film transparencies, one layer for each color of ink. Layered together these plates would make up a preview of the soon to be printed images, books, and magazines.

I used these scissors all throughout high school and they got me through all my art courses in college. I’ve used them to clip coupons, make artwork, and cut gift wrap. They’ve cut herbs in my garden and opened many boxes. Now I keep this 30 year old pair of scissors in my home studio where they still get used on an almost daily basis.

50th anniversary

While my pair of scissors turned 30 this year, did you know that October 5th is the 50th anniversary of these iconic shears? These scissors were actually the first plastic-handled scissors to be made. In honor of the anniversary, I used my new pair to create three colorful collages. They are inspired my first pair of Orange-handled Scissors and their printing industry roots. I cut out and layered colorful sheets of vellum to mimic the way cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink are combined to make full color printed images.