ROSSI STUDIOS Crafts

Sketchbook Club

Week 2: Collage

Collage is a fun and versatile art medium that can be created out of almost anything you have on hand. Grab some newspaper, scrapbooking paper, tissue paper and anything else that strikes your fancy...and start collaging!

Materials:

Various papers - scrapbooking paper, newspaper, magazines, tissue paper, etc.

Scissors

Glue stick, Modge Podge, or Elmer's glue

Other materials to add to the collage - buttons, thread, yarn, fabric, dried flowers, etc. (optional)

Directions:

1. Select some papers that inspire you. Mixing various colors and textures can make the piece more interesting,

2. Collages can be representational (illustrating or depicting a specific object) or abstract (a non-representational collection of shapes, forms, textures, etc.).

3. Choose whether you will be working in a representational or abstract form of collage.

4. For a representational collage, choose the object, scene, or person you will be depicting. Cut the papers in shapes that help to create this subject. If often helps to break down the various sections of your subject into such shapes. (For example: A cat's ears could be triangles, its nose could be an oval, and its eyes could be almond-shaped.

5. For an abstract collage, the possibilities are endless. Cut shapes and forms. Layer them. Experiment with combining colors and textures. But, mostly, have fun and be creative!

6. Once you have mastered the art of paper collage, feel free to add more dimensional aspects to your art piece. Buttons, sticks, stones, and just about anything else you can think of are fair game for collaging!

Abstract
This abstract collage shows how to use various shapes, textures, and colors to make an interesting composition.

Representational
This collage by Rossi Studios' employee Heather Warriner provides an example of how to use many different dimensional materials to create a very textural collage.