The collage project continues! My friend and fellow art teacher at Park Elementary, Mrs. Anderson, suggested I document my collage making process with some photos. Before I begin, I would like to credit an artist who has given me inspiration and direction in my beginner collage attempts – Teesha Moore. Check out her blog and work – it is simply stunning! Her step-by-step journal making directions gave me the background information and understanding I needed to begin my own little collages.
First step….I cut and tape a variety of 5×7 pieces of paper to my work surface. I like to try different hand-made papers with texture, watercolor paper, and plain old cold-press illustration board – whatever looks fun.
Next….splash some watercolor on the different papers. Sometimes I draw with crayon on the paper first to create some crayon-resist effects, or pull off come color with paper towel.
Here’s my favorite part…cutting snips of pictures, patterns, colors…and gluing them to the watercolor surfaces. I like to play around with the colors and images, but not think too hard about it while I am working (also one of Teesha Moore’s suggestions….as is looking at my magazines upside down so I can focus on colors and textures instead of images!). The hardest part is to leave some room for words, writing, and drawing too. At this point I often work toward a theme for the group of 10 collages that I’m working on….in this case, vegetables and fruit. The theme helps me focus in my magazine snipping and cutting – otherwise I may never get to the next step.
This is where I try to pull the collage group together with words or quotes, or just letters. I like the visual punch the words add to the collages, and the way words can add emphasis to the piece. Sometimes I stamp images and words at this point too.
Finally, more fun…drawing on the images, adding details to the background, playing with the colors, and pulling each collage together. This is a neat step because I can use any art material I can think of…markers, chalk, oil pastel, crayons, or colored pencils As I continue to work on these collages, I am also preparing the next 10 for a new series!
