Artwork Made From Vintage Books
I had recently acquired a couple vintage painting books and decided to use them to create new, modern art. Vintage books can be found at most antique stores, flea markets and thrift shops. You can also find them online on sites like Etsy and Ebay. If you cannot find vintage books that suit your style you can also use pages from adult coloring books.
To do this project you will need books of your choosing, a pair of scissors or paper cutter if you have one, and frames. If you do not have any frames on hand Amazon and Wal-Mart are great sources for affordable ones. I like frames with mats for projects like this because they create a more sophisticated look, while also hiding any imperfect edges. Pages from books are not typically intended to be used as artwork so a mat can help you achieve an even, squared look.
Choosing which pages you'll use depends on the look you're going for, as well as what your style is. Since I wanted to achieve a more modern look I opted for the black and white linework pages. Once you have chosen which pages you'd like to use, I recommend using your scissors or paper cutter to remove the pages from the book. This will prevent accidental rips and tears to the picture.
When all of your pictures are cut out you can begin framing them. Sometimes the pictures will fit perfectly in the frames and mats with no adjustment.
Other times you'll have a bit of an overlap, which is fine, but since this picture had enough of a white edge I was able to go back in and trim it to fit better.
I used my scissors to carefully trim the bottom of the page. This is also where the mat can come in handy. If you mess up (as long as the opening is larger than the picture) imperfections can be hidden. If you're having trouble with the picture moving around while you put the back of the frame on you can use tape to hold it in place.
It worked out perfectly. I used this method on my next two frames as well. After I framed all of my prints I hung them on the wall.
I am so pleased with how this turned out! I was able to transform a space on a low budget. Artwork can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be when you get creative. I hope this inspires you to think outside the box and create your own artwork.
Frequently asked questions
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