Collage art probably isn't unfamiliar to you. It's another one of those things we did in grade school with tissue paper or construction paper and glue. Or old magazines or newspapers (remember those?) and glue. Or fabric or yarn and glue. Funny enough, collage comes from the French word “collér,” which means “to glue.”
Personally, I don't love collage as an art form. It's not the kind of thing I would hang on my wall and if the artist is trying to communicate meaning, I often just don't get it. (My artistic ignorance is showing.) But as far as an easy-access creative practice, I love collage! The variety of materials you can paste together are essentially limitless. It can be very cheap to make, using stuff you have on hand, found objects, and upcycling what might have otherwise gone in the trash.
Collage art generally falls into one of these types or techniques:
Paper collage. Paper of almost any kind is applied to a surface, such as canvas, to create a new image.
Decoupage. Paper cutouts are arranged and layered to create an image which is varnished or sealed into place on another object such as a piece of furniture.
Photomontage. Photos or pieces of photos are glued together to create a new image or composite. The modern version of this is done with digital tools like Photoshop.
Assemblage. Objects are added to a flat surface creating a three dimensional image.
Collages might also be made with wood or metal or be combined with other art like paintings or drawings. Like I said, limitless options.
Collage Art by Picasso, Matisse, and You
Even though I tend to associate collage with first grade art, there are many very sophisticated, interesting, and skilled collage artists. Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque are credited with coining the term "collage" and introducing it to the masses in the early 1900's. Here's a short video of an art expert from the Museum of Modern Art describing one of Picasso's collages, "Guitar."
Picasso: Guitars 1912-1914 | Picasso's Collage Materials, The Museum of Modern Art (1:51)
Henri Matisse made"cut-outs" of painted sheets of paper and assembled them into works of art, in part because his poor health kept him bed-ridden (it's less messy to use scissors than oil paints when you're lying in bed). I didn't realize until researching this article that Matisse's well-known Blue Nude II (link to a photo and audio tour from MoMA) is a collage, not a painting. (Again, showing my artistic ignorance).
This article from Artland Magazine features five contemporary collage artists. The article states these artists, "challenge and dismantle the narrow-minded notions about collage." (Hey, that's me! I'm narrow-minded!) I have to admit that while I still don't especially like collage art, I absolutely appreciate it and collage artists.
If you like or appreciate collage art, or if you don't, it's a fantastic activity for almost anyone to try. In case you need convincing, here are five reasons to make collage art:
You probably already have everything you need to make it. Double check the glue situation.
The level of "goodness" or "badness" is hard to discern (says the narrow-minded author), therefore success is a given.
It can make you feel like a kid, and who doesn't like that?
It boosts your creativity and therefore your happiness. Again, who doesn't like that?
It can be done alone or with friends and family. Add a little wine for the adults and you have yourself a really good time.
If you need some inspiration to get started, here's my Collage Art Pinterest board. But don't get caught up in what everyone else is doing. Grab a few ideas, move away from the screen, and start collaging. If you really need a tutorial, here's a quick video. But seriously, do you really need a tutorial? Go have fun. Let me know how it goes.
How to Make a Collage - Materials, Composition, and Tips, Mr. Otter Art Studio (10:50)
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