Art Doesn’t Have to Match Your Sofa

Collagemaker Kelly Schaub dedicates this collection to artists everywhere and the very special collectors, supporters, buyers, cheerleaders, and art lovers that make it all worthwhile.

The idea for this book (and the series that I hope to publish in the future) began with the idea for a coloring book – one page of a famous artwork, and one coloring page with a sofa reflecting the design of the art. A tongue-in-cheek method of art appreciation. I never got the coloring book off the to-do list, but a few years later decided to incorporate my own artwork into the sofa images. This fun approach of showing a piece of artwork, next to the funky art-filled sofa image gave me the spark to create a collection of my recent works. I envision future books in this series focusing on the artwork of others as well.

Why “Art Doesn’t Have to Match Your Sofa”? The serious reason is to get society to recognize the value of original art, and especially artists in their community. I’m always disappointed when someone says they love art, yet their home is filled with mass-produced décor from a big-box store. Often, for the same price tag, they could own original art, instead of factory made copies. And, if they sought out local artists, in their own geographic region, they could establish a meaningful relationship, which would only add to the intrinsic value of the artwork.

I create collages. I use original vintage materials. My artwork is one-of-a-kind, and as unique as the materials that I find to position upon my canvas. And collage is a very hard sell. People, in general, are more comfortable with paintings, drawings, still lifes, and landscapes. Sometimes, due to source materials, collage is hard to scale. A great vintage gal from a 1920s catalog isn’t going to command a large enough canvas to be a centerpiece in your living room. My larger pieces are mainly abstracts, and I’ve chosen several of them for this book. Because I want people to think about buying art from artists, local artists, your friends and neighbors. And I want people to consider elevating the medium of collage. Collage wasn’t too pedestrian for Picasso or Matisse.

I also teach. I love teaching collage because it is so accessible. A small child can cut (or rip) papers and glue or paste them down. Established painters and other artists can expand their compositional framework by experimenting with collage. Materials for collage are also very accessible. Kurt Schwitters and several others created collages from what most people would throw in the trash bin or find on the sidewalk. Junk mail, catalogs, newspapers, magazines, and the bits and pieces of everyday life, like receipts, ticket stubs, tourist brochures, maps, and worn out books, all make for great collage fodder.

As you page through this collection, think about acquiring some original art. Think about learning a new technique or trying some new materials. Think about getting to know a local artist and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how she creates work. Think about something other than a generic wall hanging from a national chain store over your sofa. Think about the possibilities. And enjoy!

• Full color images throughout
• 60 pages
• 8.5″ x 8.5″ square perfectbound paperback
• All original collage artwork by Kelly Schaub
• Descriptions, materials, and thoughts on each piece
• First in a series