breaking the white page

I taught a couple of weeks ago in Ortonville, MN. The class was a deconstructed collage and I had handed out, small journal books for us to work in…. and the pages were all white.

One of the questions asked was how to “overcome” the white page.

My suggestion that day, was to use a large piece of collage to cover most of the white paper to get us started. In the photo above, that page is on the left.

But let’s talk about other ways to break the page and get you started:

• Simply play with your art supplies- grab a favorite color in an ink, paint, gauche and get it onto the paper; use a different tool to apply, or apply through a stencil; pour, drip, dribble that color

  • Consider gesso’ing the page prior to start if you are using paint or inks- and don’t go all the way to the edge of the paper with the gesso- this will create interest as the paper will take the color differently on the gesso versus the non-gesso

• Try simply making marks- scribble or make marks across the pages with a pencil, crayon, marker, or pen; a continuous line, or hatch marks, circles, etc

  • Consider drawing lines to “box in” the page and then only create within the smaller, inner box of the page

• Collage- try either a large page from a text book, reading book, or grab some of your stashed scrapbook paper (i know you have some….. mine is hiding under the counter)

  • Cut out shapes from any of these papers and add to page; layering shapes

• Add a photo- new or old, and write down why you placed it in your book

• Write- a prayer, poem, song lyrics, a favorite quote, or recipe- my gramma would write a recipe anywhere!

• Tape off the edges with a painter’s tape, create on page and then gently remove the tape when done

• Grab a needle and thread and try sewing on the page; you can add fabric or sew over/ on collage

• Use a “prompt” - write down creative ideas you like or want to try and then use these to get started

  • Or several artists have created prompt decks to get the art rolling, support another artist and buy a prompt deck

I hope some of these ideas can help overcome a white page when you encounter it. If you would like to print off this list, use the button below to grab a copy. Let me know if you have questions or maybe a trick that you have used to overcome the white page!

xo. Kristin