How to Make a Fine Art Collage

Making collage pieces for family and friends is a great way to create a personal gift that has some function as well. Whether working on a box or book cover, or on a canvas to hang on the wall, making a collage is easy and fun. Having the right materials is vital though, and if you or a friend are an art enthusiast this project is for you. Fine and famous art prints give this project a classy and historical look that everyone will appreciate.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Fine art prints or copies printed from your computer
• Computer and Internet access
• Color printer
• Collage glue or shellac
• Scissors
• Box or canvas to adhere your collage onto.
• Paintbrush to apply glue

1. Find your images by looking through art history books or other good quality books with large illustrations (finely illustrated fairy tale books are also good). Look for pieces with large blocks of colors. Select warm tones for the most dramatic final pieces. You can also find image sources by going to the websites artmagick.com or allposters.com, and search through the artwork there (see Resources below).
2. Copy and paste images of artwork found on the Internet into a Word document; resize and print.
3. Cut artwork into small squares, rectangles and other shapes you wish to incorporate into your work.
4. Prepare your "canvas." Apply a coat of glue or collage shellac to the box or item you wish to collage over.
5. Arrange your fine art images onto your piece and glue down in layers.
6. Put a final coat of glue or shellac over entire piece to finish it off.
7. Allow to dry fully.

Tips & Warnings

• Collect old art books and images at garage sales and flea markets so that you don't feel guilty cutting them apart.
• Do a fine art theme such as famous hands or landscapes.