| What Is Collage?According to the dictionary, | | | | a set list of things you can include in your collage |
| collage art is an artistic composition made of | | | | art. That's because anything and everything in |
| various materials (as paper, cloth or wood) glued | | | | your life can be incorporated into a collage! The |
| on a surface. The word comes from the French | | | | possibilities are limitless because there are no rules |
| word "coller," meaning to glue or to paste.It really | | | | when it comes to this fascinating art form.Here is |
| is that simple! You use any materials or found | | | | a partial list of the collage materials I have on the |
| objects that you like and glue them down to | | | | shelves of my art room: |
| create a piece of art. You can call it by other | | | | |
| names: montage, assemblage, or decoupage. But | | | | ribbon |
| it all comes down to the same thing: collage- a | | | | decorative and handmade paper |
| layering of images, color, and texture.Other art | | | | yarn |
| forms (such as painting, carving, weaving, or | | | | paper tags |
| sculpture) require that you start from ground | | | | stickers |
| zero. You have an empty canvas, a slab of clay, | | | | slide frame holders |
| a silent loom, an unformed block of wood... and | | | | acrylic paint |
| you wait for an idea to take hold of you before | | | | seashells |
| you begin.Collage art is unique because you take | | | | beads |
| already existing materials to make your piece of | | | | sea glass |
| art. You begin by gathering the bits and pieces | | | | charms |
| you want to use and laying them down however | | | | old jewelry |
| you like. You don't need to know how to draw. | | | | old photos |
| You don't even need to consider yourself an | | | | jigsaw puzzle pieces |
| artist! All you need is an open mind and the | | | | buttons |
| willingness to explore.Mixed Media Collage uses | | | | feathers |
| various materials (fabric, yarn, paper, metal, | | | | pigment ink pads |
| wood) as well as paint, chalk, clay...anything you | | | | copper foil |
| can get your hands on!You'll Never Make A | | | | wrapping paper |
| Mistake!As you begin to play around with | | | | Scrabble tiles |
| multi-media collage, you'll discover yourself moving | | | | pretty napkins |
| closer and closer to the creative child within. This | | | | old playing cards |
| inner playful child holds the key to your creative | | | | bottle caps |
| voice. Collage art is all about playing around with | | | | rubber stamps |
| materials and colors and images, gluing them down | | | | keys |
| and seeing what happens next.The best part is- | | | | used cd's |
| there is no way to make a mistake. You can't go | | | | raffia |
| wrong with collage, no matter how hard you try! | | | | glitter |
| If you don't like the way something looks, you | | | | marbles |
| simply paste something on top of it, or paint over | | | | corrugated cardboard |
| it and add something different. | | | | Take a look around your house and see what |
| Let me repeat the magical eight words- there is | | | | loose odds and ends you can gather up to put |
| no way to make a mistake. Multi-Media Collage | | | | into a basket for your next collage.8 Easy Steps- |
| MaterialsFor the base of your collage, you can | | | | Make A Collage!1. Decide on a base and a glue to |
| use: | | | | start with.2. Gather a basket of papers and found |
| | | | objects that will add depth, texture, and meaning |
| mat board | | | | to your piece. Choose only colors and objects and |
| illustration board | | | | images that you like!3. Rip a few pieces of |
| 300 lb. watercolor paper | | | | textured paper at random and glue them down |
| canvas board | | | | onto the base.4. Add a few more pieces of a |
| I find canvas board to be the best if you are | | | | different colored paper until the background is |
| using paint or any wet media in your collage art | | | | covered.5. Reach into your basket and take out |
| work. It is the sturdiest and least likely to lose its | | | | the first thing you touch. It might be a shell, a |
| shape when wet. Also, I like the texture that the | | | | feather, a piece of fabric, a photo of you when |
| canvas immediately gives to my work.You will | | | | you were 6.6. Glue it down too!7. Step back and |
| succeed with any of the following adhesives: | | | | look at your piece, but not too closely. Does it |
| | | | need some more background? Add it! Does the |
| acrylic medium | | | | background look okay? If not, just add some |
| gel medium | | | | more pieces from your basket, or dab some ink |
| double-sided tape | | | | or paint in a few different spots.8. If you're |
| double-sided foam | | | | listening within, your inner artist (creative voice) |
| spray adhesives (use with caution because of | | | | will tell you when you're finished!When you're done |
| the fumes! | | | | with this collage art piece, you can go on to |
| tacky glue | | | | create as many more as you like! It's really not |
| E-6000 | | | | hard. Collage art is fun, and a wonderful way to |
| You will need to experiment with the different | | | | self-expression!Anne Marie Bennett is a freelance |
| kinds of glue until you find the one that you like | | | | writer and self-taught artist who enjoys playing |
| the best. Keep in mind that one collage piece | | | | with mixed-media collage, and all forms of color |
| might use more than one type of glue. | | | | and words. She has a BS degree in Education |
| You can buy these materials (and lots more | | | | from Southern Connecticut State University and |
| collage art supplies!) at your local art store or | | | | has taught children, teens and adults throughout |
| craft warehouse.Found Objects: It's hard to make | | | | the East Coast. |