I Collect Newspapers From My Hometown and I Make Art Out of Them
Hi, I’m Amy! I’m a graphic designer, a bit of a nerd, and I was born in 1989. One of my favourite things to do is collect old newspapers from my hometown and turn them into artworks.
The Source Material
I love sourcing newspapers from the 1970s and 1980s, especially the ones with weird or wonderful layouts. The editions I’ve used recently are from 1978, 1983, 1985, and 1988. There's something special about the design choices from that era, the typefaces, the grainy photos, the ad layouts, and they make perfect material for collage.
The Process: Scanning and Cleaning
While the final product might look simple, it’s actually a very time-consuming process. First, I sort through the papers to find the right sections. Then I scan them at high resolution and begin the cleanup. Each graphic element is brought into Photoshop, where I fix levels and contrast, remove any discolouration or background textures, and prep them for layout.
The Puzzle of Layout
Laying everything out might sound easy — but it’s not! It’s just as fiddly and time-intensive as cleaning up the original scans. I treat it like a puzzle, working to find a balance between structure and flow. I’m always thinking about visual hierarchy, rhythm, and how negative space can help the whole piece breathe.
Theme: BINGO!
For this particular series, I focused on the theme of BINGO — taken from a variety of different local newspapers. I was drawn to the repeated frames, the bold typographic hierarchy, and the fun energy these pages had. It’s nostalgic, a bit ridiculous, and totally charming.
Why Black & White First?
I always start in black and white — it’s a designer thing. Working without colour helps me focus on structure, form, and hierarchy before adding anything that could distract from the bones of the piece. I recommend it to anyone designing something layout-heavy.
Print Quality & Materials
I print these myself using my EcoTank 8550, an inkjet printer that can handle borderless A3 prints. I use a beautiful Archival Matte stock at 189GSM, which gives a crisp, high-quality finish with a rich feel.
The Final Result
The finished pieces make for humorous, nostalgic, and visually rich artworks, available from A5 to A3. I absolutely love the colour outcomes and the print quality — they bring these decades-old materials to life in such a modern way.
These prints come in A5, A4 and A3 and are printed by me on an art printer using 189GSM Archival Matte Paper. Add some Brisbane Nostalgia to yours walls today! Bingo! Art Print Ca$h Art print and 1983 Art Print
