Collage--Papers, Layers, Cut and Glue

 Collage Skill-builder 

An artist brings their style to a work of art.  Because a collage can be made of so many different materials, there are many possibilities in the collage studio.

-Ekua Holmes

Let's look at two very different collage artists.  Each has his and her own style.  One uses solid color papers and cuts abstract cities and compositions.  The second artist creates figures with layers of photocopies, colorful clothing, and powerful poses.  

MarcPaperScissor is a Florida/New York based artist. He works in many mediums but is best known for his work with cut paper. 

Marc is very precise in his cutting.  Does it look like he's had practice.  Notice he also uses a hole puncher to make dots.

Deborah Roberts is a mixed media collage artist.

Deborah Roberts did not see art that looked like or represented her when she visited museums.  She set out to make art that would show people there is more than just one idea of what can be beautiful.  Today her art is in museums and galleries around the world and she is showing the world beauty through her collages.

In her collages she uses multiple layers, double meanings, and symbols. You might notice elements that show old and young. Contrast light and dark, color and black + white.

Deborah Roberts says her process combines found (photos, magazine pictures, pattern papers) and images with hand drawn and painted details to create hybrid figures. Notice how powerful these poses are.

Why do you think Deborah used Blue tape on this photo?

Techniques to improve your collage work

Overlap or layer materials.  Put one paper over part of another.

Practice to improve your cutting skills. 

Add texture (tear paper, smooth paper, special scissors, different types of paper and materials)

Can you tell this artist used a variety of papers?

Try multi-media (using more than one material in your work.  For example combine drawing with glued paper, tape, and then paint parts of your paper or design). This artist went to the painting studio and painted an ocean background and the next week tore and cut paper to make sea-life.

Draw details on top of your collage with sharpie.

There are many ideas of what is beautiful. How will you as an artist show the world beauty?

What materials will you use to create a collage?

How will you manipulate and change materials in your work?

Skill builder:

Create a Collage page --You can:

Cut paper into shapes, arrange onto your paper and glue into place

Use a monochromatic color scheme - one color
Create a colorful rainbow background

Collage colors that could be used for a landscape or seascape

What could you do with this collage: