How to Make a Collage

You are supposed to submit an Artwork tomorrow morning. You are running short of time and short of creative ideas (well, that's a prerequisite!) and last but not the least, you feel terrible about the situation at hand. Alright, cheer-up now! Here is a great idea. Let's create a collage.

1. The first step is to collect material that you would like to paste together. The material could range from colorful pieces of cloth, scrap from magazines, newspaper, photographs, little beads ... just about anything that helps you add a personal touch. You could draw, sketch, or paint things you like to include in your masterpiece.

2. Next step involves employing a nice, big sheet of paper and a cardboard piece to get the base thick. You also need to think about the background of your collage. It could be plain and sober or twisted and zingy. This is where you need to get creative to the core. The background has to be captivating.

3. After the background is decided, you could get to some serious work. Paste the sheet of paper on the cardboard and cut the duo the way you want it. Juggle with different shapes and sizes or add some decorative pieces such as beads.

You may also make colored cotton balls. Just dip them in the color palette and sprinkle a bit of gold or silver shimmer. Make them a part of your background.

4. Take pages of a magazine and cut them in irregular shapes and sizes. You may also tear them by yourself into tiny bits and pieces. No need to use scissors. You would naturally get different shapes and sizes.

5. If you want to add quotes or words of your choice in the collage, write them by yourself by using stencils. You could display your calligraphy skills in here as well.

Cutting different characters and letters from the magazine or newspaper in different fonts and colors and sticking them together to construct a word or sentence of your choice is also a good idea.

6. Stick the material on the background you have crafted. You could either plan it beforehand, so as to have an idea of how the collage would look when it is done or you could resort to going with the flow.

7. After the pasting is done, let the collage dry completely.
8. Use beads or metal pieces as capstones to your collage.
9. Get ready to garner compliments that come your way. Your collage is done!

Here are some quick tips and collage ideas that you could keep in mind to help you create your masterpiece.

Having adequate material on hand is the prerequisite to creating a collage of your dreams. You may decide on a theme of your choice and collect material that goes with the theme.

Right from the material that the collage constitutes, to the final look of your piece, the collage should only scream one word ...'YOU'. Yes, the collage should reflect your personality - the way you are, your likes and dislikes. Let the collage do the talking for you!

Two factors need to be taken into consideration. The time you take to craft the collage and the place you choose to work. Try to devote enough time to your collage. Don't try and complete things in a hurry. Give it time. Assign yourself a place that invites fewer distractions. Use a table that is large enough to accommodate your material.

Pen down words, sentences, quotations with a creative twist. Make use of stencils, calligraphy pens or include certain words in different languages or use a different script. Make words your tool to hit the eye.

Do not make your collage look incomprehensible and suffocated. (Remember, it is supposed to be your reflection!). Well, you need to leave some space for your collage to breathe.

Copyright your work. To give it a touch of authenticity, sign your initials, stick your picture and give a short profile description.

Display your work of art with confidence and panache. The collage is your personalized style statement. You have an access to it every single minute. It is what you are. Show it off!

Besides, to create a collage you need good incorporation skills. Never mind, if you don't possess the skill, you could always develop it, right! So go ahead and pastiche your persona!