Collage

art · creativity · visual-arts · mixed-media

Cutting and pasting. Collage comes from the French word meaning "gluing." Artists cut pieces from magazines, paper, fabric, and other flat materials, then arrange and glue them onto a surface to make something completely new.

Two-dimensional art. Most collages are flat, like a regular painting or drawing. They live on paper or canvas where all the pieces lay side by side, creating interesting patterns, pictures, and designs.

Making something new. When you collage, individual pieces that might not seem special by themselves combine to create one amazing artwork. It's like a visual puzzle where the final image is totally different from what you started with.

Found materials matter. Collage artists often use recycled materials like old newspaper clippings, magazine cutouts, and scrap paper. This makes collage a fun and creative way to give old materials a second life.

Different from assemblage. While collage is flat and two-dimensional, assemblage is its three-dimensional cousin. Assemblage uses objects glued together to stand out from the wall, like sculptures made from found items.