“The word ‘collage’ comes from the French word “coller” which means to stick together or to glue.”
What is collage art in simple words?
Collage is an art-making technique where pieces of paper, pictures, and other things are arranged and stuck down onto a surface. It often includes magazine and newspaper clippings (though I generally like to use only content I have created), photographs, ribbons, paint, bits of colored or handmade papers, portions of other artwork or texts, and other found items.
I have always loved creating collage art. Enjoying the extra dimension of layers of added paper or other materials.
This small piece was created some months ago. I started by ripping pieces from a landscape texture sheet in one of my sketchbooks, shaping as I tore, to use as the broad areas of the apple shape. Then I added paint splatters and a light was in the background. The black ink lines were added in Procreate 5 on my 12.9” iPad Pro.
I am currently working on publishing a book of my Apple artwork. I have 25-30 Apple art works at present.
Do you incorporate collage into your art? If so, please post a link to your work in the comment section.
“Every great artist has a closet full of bad paintings” ~David Young
As the saying implies, every seasoned artist has a closet-full of also-ran works, partially-finished paintings (I have a TON of these) and various sketches, splatters, colour studies, etc. to draw on for inspiration. Years ago I signed up for a creative play course at a local art school. At that time I was operating a busy design and advertising studio and had been pounding it hard for months, even years, deciding I needed to have some fun to recapture my spontaneous creativity. During that time I started making collages out of some of the painted works I made in class. Ripping them up, adding to them with fresh paint marks and splashes—even some snippets from my creative writing journals—resulting in a couple of my all-time favourite pieces (will post them another time).
Now, some 20 years later, with arthritis plaguing my hands and arms, back problems and one ‘iffy’ foot, large works are a challenge. Historically, I worked on many pieces at a time, propping them up in my studio so I could ponder them as I walked by, making a mark here or there. At times scrubbing out an entire area. Now, I only do one or two larger pieces at the same time, with the rest of my time spent on smaller works to satisfy the necessity to create something—anything.
A couple years ago I started a daily drawing/painting habit that satisfied the creative urge. Last winter, till this day, I have parlayed that into collage work. I generally do not use magazine or other printed materials (tho I won’t rule out anything in future) but rather use my own failed (in my estimation) or damaged paintings as fodder to make something new. The ULTIMATE RECYCLING activity for creating ART. See more Art Recycling ideas here. I like the ecological aspects of repurposing material that may add to the landfill for new creative art.
Pictured here are two pieces that are on my college table at present. They are still at the placing element design stage. Gluing only happens when I’m happy with an area. I walk by and shift or add a piece of paper, a dried leaf, a piece of thin fabric or paint a brushstroke here and there till my mind yells “STOP” and I call it finished. These two have been hanging about since Spring and I’m just getting back to working on them. Each started with paint on paper, discarded works, pieces of larger works. The theme is nature clothed in its many landscape and seascape outfits.
Famous artists who worked in collage include: Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Kurt Schwitters, Hannah Höck, et al. Link.
Post a comment.
Do YOU enjoy working in collage? What are your challenges or pre-conceived notions about collage as an art form?
Trisha’s Daily Painting 