Ephemera

Three years ago, I was finishing up my last required drawing class for my major. Our last project was to create a drawing with found paper. This was something I had never done before, but immediately feel in love with found paper and ephemera. I’ll share that first project and a few I’ve created since then. Here you can see a few pieces of my ephemera.

First Collage: 2018 Newspaper, Watercolor Paper, Ink

Ephemera (pronounced e-fim-ra) are paper goods that are collectible memorabilia. The best part is combining different textures and types for an overall piece. My favorites include old stamps, book pages, sheet music, ticket stubs, and postcards. Ephemera can be anything you can imagine. I often create a new watercolor or textured background to combine with the found paper. I also enjoy including them when styling my artwork for a flat lay.

Thanksgiving, 2021: Stamps, Corrugated Cardboard, 1920’s Postcard, Corn Kernels

Bringing new life to old objects is another advantage to this art making process. A few pieces of ephemera can sometimes be considered trash or otherwise discarded after their purpose is over. This type of collage allows these paper goods to be reused and given a new purpose in a piece of artwork.

I thank my dad for my love of antiques and repurposing old things. I didn’t always appreciate it while growing up, but now we share the same affinity. Collecting antiques, ephemera, and attending shows are now a favorite for all of us. He is always on the lookout for the things I love to collect and vise versa. Do have a task that you love or find yourself collecting?

There’s no greater feeling than finding the “one” thing you’ve been looking for.

Paris in Review: Part 1

Notecards