If you visited the Crafts section of my blog, then you probably know that I often find it hard to actually use craft supplies, having a tendency to “save” things (for some “better times”, I guess?). Well, if I chicken-out (foreshadowing for my next post) like that in regards to mass-produced paper that I could easily find and buy again, imagine how much courage I need to summon to cut into the only copy of some old artifact, be it a postcard, a book, or a photo. And what about all the solitary book plates or pages of magazines long gone out of print? Even if I did somehow find a similar old postcard, it would never be the same: a lot of things I use in my artwork have unique age marks, notes, or stamps at the back.

What about scanning pictures and using the printed-out version? Printed-out specifically for my collage?

No, from the very beginning, I decided against it. Simply because that would be too easy. It wouldn’t be the same, if I cheated like that, would it? If I could undo and redo. Even if the viewer did not, at first, notice the difference, I would know it: the piece would never be or feel authentic, and the old book or magazine would remain untouched, lonely. I would like to breathe new life into it. And that means sacrificing some things in the process of trial-and-error or spending a lot (and I mean a lot) of time thinking and planning before finally making a cut or applying some glue.
Ah, what sacrifices we make for the sake of art!

This is what I mean by “original” resources: found in print and used as is. I will never print-out something specifically for my collage. I will only use my finds and imagination. The only chance I get. Original. Authentic.