David Foley

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With the new year right around the corner, it's time to set those New Year's resolutions. If starting a new hobby or becoming an artist is on your list of things to do this year, the Hollins Branch Library has just the thing.

An altered art meeting is scheduled for Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. in the library. The altered art meetings started with a four-week workshop in October 2006 that taught people how to make altered art out of discarded books and other items. Once the workshop was over, those who attended it wanted to continue meeting and creating works of art.

Since then, the group has branched out into other media that give the members an almost limitless list of resources to draw on when their creative juices begin to flow.

"We've made our own books, done collages, had a rubber stamp class, done assemblage with Altoid tins and worked with polymer clay," said Marni Smith, library assistant at Roanoke County's Hollins Branch Library.

Despite the use of many other objects, the foundation of the group is based in creating works of art from old and discarded books, which Smith admits can seem to contradict the basic rules of a library.

"It seems odd to destroy books for art," Smith added with some explanation. "We unfortunately have to discard some books because they are worn out and missing pages, but now it's like we are paying homage to books that are no longer readable and would otherwise just be discarded."

The meetings give a new purpose to more than books. Many of the members realize they have more to offer than they previously believed.

"For a lot of people this is like therapy," Smith said. "They do books on people who have passed away or other issues they have been struggling with, and it helps them deal with things."

Tricia Scott, a stay-at-home mother who lives in the Plantation Road area, started attending the group last year and said it has been a wonderful experience.

"I was writing a lot, but needed something less time-consuming," Scott said. "When I was writing, I'd go back and rewrite a sentence over and over again trying to get it just right, but this is something I can finish in a day."

Scott started by simply cutting out pictures and gluing them together in collages, but with help from the altered art group, she learned how to incorporate several different media into her art. Now she uses a combination of techniques and has taught herself to use acrylic paints.

With less than a year of experience working in altered arts, Scott considered it a fun hobby, but had no hopes of getting her work published. However, with a little prodding from the group, and Smith in particular, she started submitting her work. Now her art will be featured in several publications this year including Somerset Studio Magazine and Authentic Art Journaling.

While everyone in the group doesn't have the same success as Scott, she said it is a lot of fun for everyone and it is a great way to spend the day.

"There is something for everyone in mixed-media art," Scott said. "A lot of people think you need to be able to draw or paint well to be an artist, but that isn't true with this. If you can cut out a picture and glue it to a piece of paper, you can do this. If you like to sew, you can do this. If you can use a stamp, you can do this.

"This is a good group for anyone who wants to express themselves in an artistic way," she added. "Everyone is helpful, and we have a good time. Nobody is ever judgmental and there is no critique. Everyone is able to simply express themselves, and I like that."

For more information call Marni Smith at 561-8024 or visit the Roanoke County Library Web site at www.roanokecountyva.gov/Departments/Library.

Works of art from the group will be on display Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hollins Branch Library.