Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Phone Book as Art Supply


The end of the phone book is near. Both AT&T and Verizon have initiated plans to stop delivering the white pages in several states. 

Friends, the phone book is a valuable Art Supply!  Build a stash for the future.

So how does one use a phone book in an art studio, you ask?  Here's my list:

1. As a gluing station. Tear off the cover. Place the item to which you'll apply glue on top of the phone book and apply the glue. Tear off the page and toss it. Repeat. You'll never again get glue on the surface of a paper or photo. 
    Tear off a 1/2 inch hunk of paper and pack with your traveling art supplies.

2.  As collage ephemera. Use a strip of numbers or names in your collage work.

3.  To clean your paint brush.  And then use the painted paper in collage.  Or toss it.

4.  Use as a pad when attaching grommets or rivets.

How do YOU use phone books in the studio?
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8 comments:

  1. Unknown7:48 AM PDT

    I stand on it to reach the top of my shelving or use it as a footrest under my desk.

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  2. Rita A.9:11 AM PDT

    What a great reminder. So many things have gone by the wayside over the years. Some we miss, others we don't. As a researcher I love to go through the old city directories which list all the people, who lives in the house, where they work...wonderful bits of information. Can't do that today. Now we loose the phonebook. Guess I better add to the stash.

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  3. iHanna11:24 AM PDT

    this is a horrible truth: no phone books around here are being used! I need to correct that now!

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  4. Herm8:59 PM PDT

    I use the phone books to dry leaves!!!

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  5. Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson5:27 AM PDT

    I love the idea of using it in collage. When I visited Québec last year, I looked up St. Hilaire and tore out the page in the phone book that listed my maiden name from top left to bottom right! AND I scanned it so that I can print myself more! With a name like mine, it's really cool to see it in print like that. I like painting the paper and hiding it in my work!

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  6. Marge Malwitz5:28 AM PDT

    I do this too Jo-using catalogs & financial reports. Phone books are a great idea!

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  7. Jo Reimer8:00 AM PDT

    You all have good ideas. Like Elizabeth I've been known to tear out pages where my maiden or married name is listed and hide it in the artwork. What about using the name of a patron in a painting to sort of encourage a sale... or in a thank you postcard.

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  8. Nancy10:02 PM PDT

    I use the phone book to tuck in flowers and leaves to dry. Can't imagine not having a phone book!

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I appreciate comments and questions.