New Wave Collage
Better to live one year as a tiger,
than 100 like a sheep.
- Madonna
Materials:
80s collage printables (see below)
scissors
miscellaneous collage papers (magazine, corrugated cardboard, colored card stock, cello)
square sheet of mixed media paper
paint, pencils, pastels, markers, charcoal--whatever materials you want to add to your piece
The beauty of collage is that is a free form process. Sometimes I like to start a collage by cutting or tearing a color or pattern that speaks to me. Sometimes I start with a wash of paint or smudge of charcoal. Or I play around with found images, dissecting them in interesting ways. Then I test them out on the background... do I need to add some more? take some away? Do I need some texture? Is it time to dribble a little bit of paint, or scribble with a colored pencil...
There are no rules, follow the intuitive flow and enjoy the process. If you get stuck, try turning your paper in different directions. Step back from your piece to get a different perspective. Cut small pieces, tear an edge... or two. When you have an idea of where you are headed with your composition, begin to glue.