Collage refers to the technique of gluing different pieces of fabric, paper, or discarded objects together. Stay with Saadnews to explore this art form.
Art is a direct path to creativity and innovation. An artist can express their purpose and goal effectively through the beautiful artworks they create. However, for some works, if we don't have the right and complete artistic perspective, we may not fully understand the artist's intention. Art is essentially the freedom to express ideas through any existing medium of communication. The artist creates their work to achieve spiritual and emotional satisfaction, giving it a silent, expressive language. Every form of art has its own unique beauty. Many forms of art have evolved throughout history and have reached their modern-day forms. In the colorful world of art, one of its branches gives more freedom to the artist to create whatever they wish. This form of art is somewhat different from other visual arts. This art is called collage. Collage, or pasting, is the art of gluing discarded materials such as paper, newspapers, or fabric together to create a work. Using paper, glue, wood, etc., various works in the collage style can be made. Collage has been popular among artists for many years and is considered an artistic technique rather than a distinct form of art.
Collage Method This term means gluing and refers to a method where cuttings of colored papers, fabric, newspapers, colored cardboard, and similar items are used for coloring. In printed works, like illustrations for children's books, this method is applied. If the thickness of the work is too much, it may not be directly printable or scannable, and it’s better to prepare a large slide of the image, called a "slidelet." Collage is a method where not only photos but various materials such as cardboard, newspaper clippings, fabric, photos, objects, etc., are glued on a canvas or other surfaces to create a composition. This method was invented in 1916, and Cubist painters used this technique.
History of Collage This technique was first used when paper was invented in China around 200 BC. However, it was not widely used by many people until the 10th century, when it was adopted by Japanese calligraphers. Collage arrived in medieval Europe in the 13th century. Gold leaf was used in Gothic-style churches in the 15th and 16th centuries. Precious stones and metals were used to create religious images, icons, and symbols. An 18th-century example of collage can be seen in the works of British artist Mary Delany. In the 19th century, collage techniques were also used to make souvenirs like photo albums and books. Many attribute the use of collage to Picasso and Braque in 1912, though methods of collage were used in the 1860s.
Collage Techniques
Paper Collage: This form of collage is very popular and involves gluing pieces of paper together. It is one of the oldest visual arts. The Japanese were the first to make collages by gluing various papers together alongside texts and poems. Picasso and Braque were the first to use this art in their paintings.
Wood Collage: Wood collage is made using various colored woods. This form involves cutting natural wood into pieces and gluing them together on wooden panels. It is a surprising form of collage that showcases the beauty of the material by arranging pieces of wood together. Wooden collages may also include other materials for a more beautiful effect.
Glue Collage: Another form of collage uses pieces of images to add depth and impact to the work. It is used to add deeper meaning to an artwork. For example, the artist makes multiple copies of a single painting and arranges them together on a surface to create a new concept from the original piece.
Photo Collage: This form involves gluing different photos together to create a beautiful artwork. It represents the true essence of collage by combining various photos to convey a new meaning. Although collage is an ancient art, it also takes shape with modern-day digital photos. This type of collage is categorized as a form of digital art.
Importance of Collage for Children The simplest form of this technique for children is collage with colored paper. The child cuts and glues colored papers to express their imagination in an image. This activity is important because it changes the child’s mindset about drawing. Most children think of drawing as making pictures with drawing materials like colored pencils, markers, or pastels. By introducing them to collage, you expand their creative and artistic boundaries.
Second, it improves the child’s physical skills, such as cutting with scissors or gluing.
Third, because of its broad scope, collage strongly enhances the child’s creativity.
Final Words Collage was created to embellish written texts. Later, a handmade book adorned with collage became a significant part of collage history. The technique is still used in visual arts today, and variations of collage, like decoupage and decolage, are also popular.
