Episode
The Art of Commonplacing : Curating a Life – Richard Barnard on Collage & Commonplace books
- Podcast
- Stationery Freaks
- Published
- Aug 2, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 2350
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://stationeryfreaks.com/64
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Summary
In this episode of the podcast, Rob & Helen chat to Richard Barnard; collage enthusiast and commonplacer. Have you ever wondered what a Commonplace book is, and what it's used for? Well, in this episode we explore the origins of the Commonplace book, how Richard uses his, the stationery he uses for it and how he searches through the wealth of insights, observations, quotes and thoughts. Richard Barnard, an avid commonplacer and passionate collage artist, explains that it's a way of "creating the best book you've ever owned." He shares his analog-first, but still digital-friendly, system for capturing moments that resonate with him (like the sound of trumpets!!), including an excellent book recommendation: The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen. We chat about: The different ways to use commonplace books, from Rob's use of digital tools to Richard's dedicated analog notebooks. The unexpected history of these books, which started as "waste books" for merchants in the 14th century. The lasting value of commonplacing, which becomes a personal archive of one's life. Richard’s passion for collage art , which is inspired by vintage stationery and street photography. Desert Island Stationery, where Richard shares five of his essential stationery items he would have on a desert island! Join us as we explore the joy of collecting, the challenge of filling a blank page, and the lasting legacy that a commonplace book can create. See Richard's artwork and more about the products and books mentioned in the accompanying Stationery Freaks newsletter at : https://stationeryfreaks.substack.com/ Enjoy! Rob & Helen