If you want to express yourself and find that wonderful place where art and craft meet, collage is a great place to start. In its simplest form you don’t even need to worry about being able to paint or draw. Collage is the craft of combining images together to create something new. We look here at the three main things you will want to consider when starting out with collage; the main types of collage, collecting materials, and composing your collage.

There are 4 main types of collage that people use.

Memorabilia Based Collage

Possibly the most beautiful and interesting are those that use memorabilia or emphurea to get across a message. These can be either humorous or serious, it really doesn’t matter. There are some beautiful examples of memorabilia based collages that can give you hours of inspiration. Probably the hardest part of this kind of collage is finding the images, or pieces you want to use.

Personal Collage

This use of collage is becoming extremely popular. Whether for yourself or as a gift for someone else, collecting images, and possibly words that represent a person and their life and interests is a wonderful way of expression. For a really powerful personal collage it is best not to put the subject in the centre of the picture. Collect photos of yourself or the person you are making the collage for and pictures that represent something about them or have special meaning for them.

Mixed Media Collage

This technique uses not only straight collage but also adding paint, charcoal, pastel, marker pen, or any other media to add to the pasted on images. It lends itself to all sorts of creative artistic expression.

Digital Collage

This is a relatively new form of collage that can be a whole lot of fun. You do need a decent camera, but other than that you can really go wild. With digital collage you put together your composition using whatever you like, from gorgeously textured fabrics, to everyday objects such as glasses or scissors and create a picture, abstract or otherwise. Take the photo and adjust as you please with photo editing software. The big advantages of digital collage is you can re-use your items, try out lots of arrangements, and not have to worry about using heavy objects that may not stick. This gives lots of freedom in composition.

Composition and color are really the basis of any collage work. What you choose to use, where you choose to put it to make your statement. Every composition should have a focal point (just as in a photo). For best results use the rule of thirds, or the golden mean to find your focal point, keeping in mind that all rules are made to be broken, or at least bent. Don’t be afraid to explore color. Learn about colors that are complimentary, harmonious, receding and advancing. Color and texture play an important part in creating a mood, or atmosphere.

Finally, start collecting things you can use for collage work. Get your hands on some hard board or something similar to use as bases for your work, rather than just using paper. Scour bric-a-brac stores and online auctions for old photos, books and magazines. Pick up those dropped bus tickets, and discarded theatre tickets; you never know when they might come in useful or inspire you. Magazines are of course a must.

Collage is a fascinating and fun art and craft activity that provides a genuine creative outlet for people of all ages. Think about the basics, gather some bits and pieces and get started.

Jonathan Pitts

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