How to Make a Mosaic From a Photograph Using Magazine Clippings
A magazine clipping mosaic can mimic the look of mosaics made from stones, glass or tiles. Working from a photograph is a good way to get started if you're not an expert at drawing. This is also a good art project for children. You'll end up with a finished product that makes a great gift or a unique piece of art to decorate your space.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Photograph
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Canvas (cardboard backing or paper plate)
- Magazine clippings
- Scissors or X-Acto knife
- Elmer's glue
- Small paint brush
- Small cup
- Water
Instructions
-
Choose, Prepare and Transfer Your Photograph
-
1
The photograph will be the basis of your magazine clipping mosaic. The photo can also be from a magazine or it can be a snapshot you took yourself. While it's good to pick an image you like, since you'll be looking at it for some time as you complete your project, you also want to consider the image's color composition. A highly detailed photograph with many gradations of color can result in a lovely mosaic, but it will definitely be more difficult to work with. On the other hand, a black and white photo may make for a very stark mosaic. Ultimately, any image can make a good magazine clipping mosaic; just decide beforehand how big of a challenge you are up for.
-
2
Draw a grid over your photograph. The size of your grid's squares will depend on the size of your photograph. One-inch squares work nicely. If your photograph is too small, ½-inch squares are also a good bet. Using a ruler, draw the lines over the image. Pencil works well for this task, especially if you want to try to erase the lines later. If your picture contains a lot of dark areas, you might want to consider pen or another color.
-
-
3
If your photograph is one that you don't want to mark up, you can create a 1-inch picture frame out of another piece of construction paper or other sturdy paper. Measure a 1-inch square in the center of your paper and then cut this square out using scissors or an Z-Acto knife. You can secure this square to your photograph with a paper clip or gently tape it to the picture.
-
4
Now you can transfer your photograph to whatever you've chosen to create your mosaic on. Canvas works well for a mosaic, but a simple cardboard backing or a paper plate are also good choices. Create the same grid on your backing as you did on your photograph. You want the same number of squares to be on your backing as there currently are on your photograph. This may mean making the squares larger or smaller on your cardboard backing; this is OK, as long you stick to the same number of squares. You may also wind up with one square at the end of your columns or rows that is larger or smaller than the others. This will not hurt your end product.
-
5
Concentrating on one square at a time, draw your image on the canvas or cardboard. Breaking the image down into isolated squares will aid inexperienced drawers. You can make your lines as long or dark as you like since you will eventually be covering this drawing with magazine clippings.
Making Your Mosaic
-
6
When your drawing is completed to your liking, you can now focus on putting down your magazine clippings. Begin searching your magazines for colors that match those in your first square. When you find a match, rip it out of your magazine. Hang onto any extra if you will need to use this color in another of your squares. Whether you use large or small clippings is up to you and a matter of stylistic preference. Some people like the dramatic look of a few bold clippings; others prefer the more intricate style of using many smaller clippings. Whether to rip the clippings to your desired size or cut them with scissors is another decision you can base on your taste. Ripping the clippings may create a white space between them once they are glued onto the canvas. Some people prefer this, as it resembles the mortar or cement used in some tile mosaics. Others like the more cohesive look that results from snipping the clippings with scissors.
-
7
You'll avoid dragging your hand or arm through wet glue and ruining your mosaic. Pour some Elmer's glue into a small cup that you don't particularly treasure, as you may not want to use for drinking again. Add a two or three tablespoons of water and stir the mixture. A popsicle stick works well for this purpose, though a spoon will work too.
-
8
Use this glue mixture to secure your clippings to your backing, following the design of your photograph. Regardless of the photograph's color scheme, it's a good idea to work from left to right if you're right-handed, or vice versa if you're left-handed. Place the clipping where desired and then coat the clipping with the glue, using a small paintbrush. You want a thin coating that covers the whole clipping, especially the corners. The mixture will be clear when it dries, but big globs of dried glue will be noticeable, so avoid them or quickly wipe them up with a paper towel.
-
9
When your mosaic is finished, it can be mounted or placed under glass in a picture frame for display.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Don't use an expensive or otherwise valuable paintbrush, as the glue may ruin it.
May sure your hands are clean so nothing gets caught in the glue mixture.
