INTRODUCTION PRACTICE COLLAGE...

Image source: http://www.spikeisland.org.uk/events/activities/i-am-making-art-february-2013/

This blog will be the place I post most of the information important to this workshop. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with its content. CLICK the link below each article to read the rest of content. Each article highlights a specific type of collage, and gives visual references that will hopefully inspire your own work.

#1 BASIC OVERVIEW OF COLLAGE ART

Romare Bearden, Black Madona and Child, 1969

Collage (From the French: coller, to glue) is a technique of making art from scraps and other bits of miscellaneous materials. A collage may include newspaper clippings, ribbons, bits of colored or handmade papers, portions of other artwork or texts, photographs and / or other found objects. The assemblage of materials are then glued to a piece of paper or canvas...

#2 FINDING A MUSE IN COLLAGE

Fornastti and His Muse Linda Cavalieri

THE WORD MUSE comes from:

The Muses (Greek: Μοῦσαι, moũsai: perhaps from the o-grade of the Proto-Indo-European root *men- "think") in Greek mythology, poetry and literature, are the goddesses of the inspiration of literature, science and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths.

#3 FACE COLLAGE & TECHNICAL TIPS

Time to have some serious fun, while practicing the craft of collage. For the face collage find several large or varying size faces. Cut them apart and then put them back together again.

#4 MONOCHROMATIC COLLAGE

Image source: http://crimsonashtree.deviantart.com/art/Monochromatic-Collage-275121089

The word MONO (one) CHROMATIC (all the tones, tones, and shades, of one color). Our next assignment will challenge us to create with only one color. However within that one color you have many ways to create diversity by using the unending VALUES, TONE, SHADES within that one color.   

#6. "SECRET MESSAGE" TYPOGRAPHY COLLAGE

 

My absolute favorite typography artist is Cecil Touchon. Born 1956 Austin, Texas, Touchon is a contemporary American collage artist, painter, published poet and theorist, who  works in collage, assemblage and construction art. His work with typography abstractions is magical.

#7A-B PERSONAL NARRATIVE AND SYMBOLS PAPER QUILTS

SIGNS & SYMBOLS: African Images in African American Quilts 

by Maude Southwell Wahlman

This week we are looking at a study of symbols that impact African American traditions.Taking from these ideas shapes and symbols to create our own personal collage quilts, to use as the front and back cover of our Collage Memory Journals. As you read and look through the samples below think about using copies of family photos and shapes here to create a personal visual narrative the says something about you and the roots you come from.

Sample of paper quilt narrative of the instructors family tree, which serves as the front cover of her journal
Note how the West African Adinkra symbol (black on pink paper) is incorporated into the design.

#8 MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE

JANET TAYLOR-PICKETT: who's mixed media art is  is an exploration of the garment as a metaphor for identity.

Mixed media, in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed.

ALISON SAAR: Mo'fro, 2006
wood, tin & barbed wire
33 x 21 1/2 x 18 in. [83.8 x 54.6 x 45.7 cm]

"Having something to say is much more important. The medium you use [to say it with] is secondary."