#7 Montage of Memories [Feb 13-19]

[happyrobyn]

This week we are focusing on a technique called 'montage.' A montage is a composition of many pictures or designs, put together in a way that conveys a particular mood, such as joy, sadness, enchantment, magic, fear, romance etc. Another web site defines it as: A single pictorial composition made by juxtaposing or overlapping many pictures or designs.

Two of my favorite scrappers are Denise Docherty (http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=&perpage=18&sort=2&cat=500&ppuser=257&friendemail=email@yourfriend.com&password=) and Anna Aspnes (http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=407.). Both are masters of montage. Click on their names to see their galleries.

Remember, pictures should be from the 1970's and before. Don't feel you need a ton of pictures to do a montage. It can be done with only one picture. My sample layout uses only 2.

Here is my sample layout: Arthur Vernet Kent (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7178&limit=last7)

[happyrobyn]

I know that the montage technique seems intimidating but it is actually quite easy and fun! Just use your blending modes or change the opacity of the photos. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I have posted another example: Loneliness (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7200&limit=last1)

Please let me know if you have any questions.

[Belles]

I'm 99% certain of what I am going to do for this when I get the time but it will be using a photorealistic drawing that I did of my gran rather than a photo -- will hopefully use a photo or two as well tho. ;)

[happyrobyn]

Belles - I can't wait to see yours! Especially after learning that you are TEACHING this very technique to your students.

I also wanted to clarify that montage and collage are not synonymous. Although they are similar, they are not exactly the same and the words are not interchangeable. Someone asked me this today. Montage is more just with pictures. The pictures don't necessarily have to even be blended together. They can be overlapping (look for a layout from me soon like this if I EVER get it finished!) but all need to come together to create a unified theme. A collage is more using other things (objects, textiles, etc.) to create a piece of art. Montage is sometimes referred to as photomontage. I hope I have made this understandable. But there is definitely a difference between montage and collage to be sure! Perhaps Belles, our resident expert, could explain in more professional terms!

[Nevermore]

Oh, I get it--I wanted to post something for this challenge to see if it was a montage or not (duh) but just realised that this is for heritage photos (explains why I couldn't find the gallery!). So, okay, forget the layout, it doesn't qualify but could you please tell me if one photo treated different ways for one picture could be a montage? Just curious. I am not very sure I truly understand the difference completely although I think I am getting there--great explainations, Robyn.

[happyrobyn]

For the purpose of this challenge, I am going to accept one photo repeated on the page. You can crop it different ways and/or color it differently, etc. But don't just repeat the same exact picture many times on the page and call it a montage. It needs to look a little different. Here is an example of what I am talking about. Look at Anna Aspnes' layout called Overflow (http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=47539&cat=500&perpage=90&ppuser=407).

I hope this clarifies a little for you Nevermore.

[DragonFly]

I am with the other ladies...dont know if my take on the challenge is what you're looking for Robyn...=P

Here's Mine: John (montage challenge) (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7222)

[happyrobyn]

Karon - that is an awesome layout! You are very close to a montage. The photos just need to be blended together a little. I know this is a hard one. And I will definitely count this! Here is a link to some more information on the art of montage (http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/Mol.html#anchor6736951).

[mishou]

Robyn, thank you for inspiring me to try yet another new technique and style! I've never made a montage before. Mostly because I never knew blending modes existed until I started doing your altered art challenges!
I had so much fun doing this! You're right, it is intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it it's a blast!

Here's my link: http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7225&cat=585

[happyrobyn]

Michelle ... perfect! What a gorgeous layout! Don't you just love those free papers at the Space Raven site? They are just the thing for montage backgrounds.

[DragonFly]

Ok...TY Robyn...I really like the papers etc I used on the LO so I might just reopen it and play around.

THis technique is cool!!!

[aubero]

Here (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7246&cat=585)is mine
I love this technique but I think mine is a bit too dark ...
Thanks for the challenge
Aude

[mishou]

Robyn, thanks for the encouraging comments! And yes, her papers are definitely perfect for montages. I had always looked at those types of layouts and wondered how the heck people got them to look so cool and now I realize it's all in the papers! LOL, for a newbie like me anyway :) If anybody is reading this and contemplating trying this technique, you should definitely check out her site!

Aude, I don't think your layout is too dark at all, it's gorgeous! You did a really great job with the montage technique.

[happyrobyn]

Aude - not too dark at all! I love it just like it is.
Karon - I can't wait to see your revised version!
Michelle - YES! The papers help so much!

If you don't know where to find papers, go to SpaceRaven dot net. I don't think I'm supposed to do a direct link from here but type it into your browser. Denise Docherty is so very talented. Also try Anna Aspnes' site. Her site is fotoscrapix dot com. And, you can use MANY of the papers from right here at Scrap Artist to create a great background for a montage. I like to use blend modes to blend together 2 or 3 background papers and they look great! Just experiment a little.

I look forward to MORE layouts!

[simplyme*Naomi]

I have not posted before. I know this may sound stupid, but how do I post my montage layout to the gallery? Thanks for any help!

[happyrobyn]

Hi there SimplyMe! I can't wait to see your layout! To post your layout, first make sure it is sized at about 500x500 pixels and not more than 100kb. It should be in jpeg format. Then click on the Gallery link. Then click on Upload Photos. In the category drop down menu, choose Heritage. The rest is pretty self-explanatory. Let me know if you need any more help. So glad you have found us and are taking the heritage challenge!

[happyrobyn]

Some of you are having a little trouble grasping the montage concept. So, I thought I would post a different kind of montage. This example does not require any blending. It is simply a montage of overlapping pictures. And I must tell you that this is now one of my all-time favorite layouts! Check it out here: What are the odds of me? (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7269&limit=last7)

[simplyme*Naomi]

Thanks happyrobyn for your help :) .

Here's my link:
http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7271&limit=recent

[happyrobyn]

It is just gorgeous simplyme! You are a very talented artist!

[MirandaM]

I tell ya... this montage stuff is way outside of my realm. You have to be so gentle and feathery ...but I tried!

http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7285&cat=585

[happyrobyn]

Tried and succeeded Miranda! It looks like a faded, happy memory. They are outside my box as well but fun to do sometimes for a change of pace. Great job!

[MirandaM]

Tried and succeeded Miranda! It looks like a faded, happy memory. They are outside my box as well but fun to do sometimes for a change of pace. Great job!
Thanks, and I agree competely. It WAS a nice change of pace :D

[Scrappin'Faith]

I made a montage(i hope) and I have to say, this was a hard challenge. I also used space raven papers. i have been looking for something to use them on. They are very unique.

Sweethearts:

http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7339&cat=585

TFL!

[happyrobyn]

Faith - it is beautiful! I know this was a hard one but I wanted you guys to try it out. I am loving the results. I promise next week will be easier!

[mkjean]

Yep, this was a challenge all right. lol. I haven't mastered all the neat blending and feathering modes on my program, but I did have a lot of fun with filters and opacity. I really do appreciate these challenges, they get out of my comfort zone. This is a memory tribute to my mother.

http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7389&cat=585

[happyrobyn]

Jean - that looks great! I love all of the pictures you chose. Thanks for playing!

[Belles]

Here is mine for this challenge

Click Here (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7423&cat=500&ppuser=2214)

[simplyme*Naomi]

I hope it's okay I posted two layouts for this challenge.

Since my mom loves all things old-fashioned, I knew she would love a picture of herself dressed up in Victorian attire. So, I superimposed her face onto a picture which I had found in a magazine of a model wearing this gorgeous outfit.

Here's the link:
http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7438&cat=585

[happyrobyn]

Belles - your drawing is awesome and I love how you incorporated it into the layout.

Simplyme - WOW! What a great job. Thank you for taking the challenge again!

[SteinwaysMom]

I really wanted to do this one but I'm not sure about time. I remembered I did a layout for my brother about his amateur radio 'heritage', which he has pursued since he was a little kid. I don't know if it's even montage but I figured I post it and find out!

Check it out (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7441&nocache=1)

[Belles]

Perhaps Belles, our resident expert, could explain in more professional terms!

I am just learning about this with my students and am trying to keep one step ahead of them as we go -- however I can concer with Happyrobyn that photomontage is just the use of photos with them sometimes overlapping and sometimes just arranged together.

One photomontage artist that we are looking at is David Hockney -- if anyone wants to check out some of his work then here are a few links.

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/hockney/hockney.furstenberg-paris.jpg

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/hockney/hockney.pearblossom-highway.jpg

Both these works of Hockney's where done pre computer days and now things like partial transparancies can be applied to create much more atmosphere and mood.

Both these also show his overlapping method -- some he did with very organised images layed out in a grid with even space between them all.

Anyway I could go on and on but that will do for now.

You might see some more work from me during the course of the year that will have been influenced by what I am doing with my students on this at school ;)

[happyrobyn]

Hello Steinwaysmom! I love that layout! Such a great thing to document. It is not exactly montage but very close. The background effect is really cool. This one could easily become a montage if you blended in a picture or two with the main picture. Perhaps blending in pictures of ham radios or more of your brother. Thanks for posting this. It is really neat.

[Josoliviam]

I think this might be a week I skip for the Heritage layout! lol I just cannot get the hang of blending. So I think I will go hunt down some tutorials and post another time. I had 3 pics of my mom when she was about 3 from the same day and it's just not going well for me.

[SteinwaysMom]

Robyn - thanks for being supportive. I like the idea of montage and will keep working at it. If it weren't for my pesky job I would have more time to do this!

Belles - thanks for the David Hockney examples. This looks like a cool technique. I studied art history and am interested in any fine art technique that digiscrappers can use to 'raise the bar' in the digiscrap design world. I really didn't do much w/modern so I'm glad you are providing examples.

[happyrobyn]

Thank you all for sticking with me this week! I know it was a hard one. And even if you didn't participate this week, I hope you will give montage a try when you are more comfortable with it. I PROMISE next week will be easier and I will be posting the challenge later tonight.

[SteinwaysMom]

Just sat down and did this. It kind of reminds me of when I did journaling w/markers. Not so much concerned about perfection but just delighting in doing drawing after drawing...

http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7503&nocache=1

[happyrobyn]

WOW! That is really one of the most powerful layouts I have ever seen. Thank you so much for posting it.

[Peggy_T]

Thanks, Robyn, for encouraging me to post layouts I did before joining this site. Before this, I never tried montage before, believing that it was beyond my puny skills. It still is, but it was fun!! Anyway, thanks for this challenge, and I may just try this again in the future!
Here is my layout. (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8500&cat=585)

[happyrobyn]

OMG! It is beautiful! You are actually very talented at montage. Thanks for posting this stunning layout.

[cre8tvlyyrs]

Woohoo!! I only have one more left and I'm caught up!!
Awesome!! (can you tell I'm an 80's girl! lol!)

This layout was very hard for me because I really really miss her. But I also feel
that it was time for me to do this type of layout and when I read this challenge I knew
right away what I was going to do. The montage is pretty much a combination of
the pic of a pink orchid, my eulogy of her, our group pic with her, also the preg pic of
her with the pink love round vellum tag to highlight the start of our family.

Here's #7's ~ 'Our Pink Orchid':
http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8889&nocache=1

[happyrobyn]

The journaling on that one is outstanding. And the montage just perfect.