With the development of photography, a new kind of art was invented in the early 20th century: collage. Collage implies creating different shapes and objects from other 2D and 3D objects, such as photos, paper, ribbons, buttons, sand, little stones, sparkles, pictures etc. Technically, now all graphic design is a kind of collage art, but in digital form. Some mixed media projects use elements of collage.
One of the collage pioneers was Pablo Picasso, who began gluing different materials to canvases and other surfaces. Then dadaists and surrealists embraced collage art showing their freedom to express themselves revolutionary during the hard times of WW1 and WW2.
I love collages for many reasons:
- Collages are fast to make. I usually paint in oils, and every project takes months to be finished. But I have many ideas running in my mind, so I need some quick mediums to let them out.
- Collages develop creativity. I create a new world from ordinary pictures, and they make their new stories.
- Collages are fun. To me, collages are something not serious at all. And being light, I enjoy playing around with shapes and colours to lift up my mood.
- Collages are not expensive. If oil and even watercolour painting require some investments in art materials (high-quality paints, good paper or canvas, high-quality brushes etc.), collages cost less.
In my collages I’m using a variety of materials:
- Cradle boards
- Tissue paper and coloured napkins from general stores, as well as creative designer’s napkins from boutiques
- RUSART Deco: All Purpose Acrylic Matt Varnish to decoupage and glue objects made of fine paper
- White heavy-duty glue to attach thicker objects
- Collage items from special books
- High-resolution pictures from art books, such as Taschen, museum prints etc.
- Two coats of Rosa Studio Acrylic Gloss Varnish for surface protection at the end of work.
Unleash your creativity and phantasy!