Art in which bits and pieces of paper and fabric have been pasted onto a 2-

dimensional surface

collage (From the French: coller, to glue)

•This term was coined by both Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso in

the beginning of the 20th century when collage became a distinctive

part of modern art.

• work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an

assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole (work of art)

•Use of this technique made its dramatic appearance among oil

paintings in the early 20th century as an art form of groundbreaking

novelty.

•An artistic collage work may include newspaper clippings, ribbons, bits

of colored or hand-made papers, portions of other artwork,

photographs, and such, glued to a piece of paper or canvas.

•Techniques of collage were first used at the time of the invention of paper in

China around 200 BC. The use of collage, however, remained very limited

until the 10th century in Japan, when calligraphers began to apply glued

paper, using texts on surfaces, when writing their poems.

•The technique of collage appeared in medieval Europe during the 13th

century.

•Gold leaf panels started to be applied in Gothic cathedrals around the 15th

and 16th centuries. Gemstones and other precious metals were applied to

religious images, icons, and also, to coats of arms.

•In the 19th century, collage methods also were used among hobbyists for

memorabilia (i.e. applied to photo albums) and books (i.e. Hans Christian

Andersen, Carl Spitzweg).

Peter Blake, On the Balcony, 1955 - 1957, collage, mixed-media

Compotier avec fruits, violon et verre by Pablo Picasso (1912)

Glued-on patches which added to their canvases It "collided with the surface plane of the painting."

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973), Bottle of Vieux Marc, Glass, Guitar and Newspaper, 1913, collage and pen and ink on blue paper, 46.7 x 62.5 cm, Tate Gallery, London

Francis Picabia (born "Francis Martinez de Picabia") (French, 1879-1953)

L'Oeil Cacodylate, 1921, oil on canvas, with collaged photographs, postcards and other papers, 148.6 x 117.4 cm, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.

What you need to make a collage: Old magazines or catalogs

Old greeting cards

Square of heavy paper or cardboard for the background surface

White glue

Scissors

Glue

Yarn for trim and hanger

Your own art work

Poems

tissue paper

Stickers

Your imagination

Gather any old greeting cards that you can find. Christmas cards, valentines, birthday cards, whatever kinds of cards you have will do fine. First make sure that you're not cutting up somebody's special card! Ask permission before you begin cutting. Then cut around the designs or pictures you wish to use and lay them aside. Dispose of any waste paper.

Next lay out the pictures on the square of heavy paper or cardboard you will be using for the collage background. Overlap the pictures. You want to make sure none of the background will show. After you are satisfied with your layout, carefully remove the pictures and lay them on the work space beside the background. Try to lay them out in the order you placed them on the background.

Smooth a thin layer of white glue on a small section of the background. Begin placing your pictures on the background. Don't use too much glue or the edges of your pictures will curl! Using a gentle touch, smooth the pictures. Make sure the edges overlap. Repeat this step until the surface is completely covered; let the glue dry. Drying time may take an hour or more, depending on how much glue you used. To be safe, let the collage dry overnight. After making sure everything is completely dry, trim the excess paper away from the edges of the background.