In conversations with individuals and artists regarding collages, it is common for the terms “collage” and “decoupage” to be used interchangeably. While they are distinct techniques, they can coexist within the same artwork and enhance each other’s visual impact.

First of all, collage is a form of art, where various objects create a new one when out together. If a collage is physical, it may include many elements made from paper, photos, beads, shells and many other objects. Also, collage can be digital and that’s a form of art used a lot by designers and digital artists. 

When a collage incorporates paper elements, it may involve the use of certain decoupage techniques. Decoupage is a decorative method where thin paper, like rice or tissue paper, is adhered to a surface to achieve different visual effects. For instance, tissue paper can be decoupaged to simulate printed textures, or patterns can be applied to wood to mimic a painted appearance. To integrate the image seamlessly with the surface, a decoupaged area must be sealed with varnish or glue. Simply applying varnish over a collage does not automatically classify it as “decoupaged.”

In my collages, I typically incorporate elements of both decoupage and traditional collage techniques.  At first, I create a base using decoupage methods with a variety of tissue and rice paper. For the initial layer, I use acrylic matte varnish as a glue (beneath the tissues) and as a sealant (over the tissues, while the adhesive is still wet). This process prepares the surface (whether wood or cardboard) for collaging, and the background looks like a treated or painted board.

Once the initial layer has dried thoroughly, I incorporate paper collages into the artwork, predominantly utilizing images sourced from a variety of books and occasionally magazines. The adhesive is applied to the reverse side of the cutouts, and after the entire composition has dried completely, I apply a gloss UV-resistant acrylic varnish to safeguard the image from moisture and light exposure.