How to Create Tissue Paper Collage Art

Creating tissue paper collage art in the style of children's author Eric Carle is both fun and a surprisingly simple technique. While following these steps won't guarantee you are the next Eric Carle, you will probably be surprised by your own, or your child's, results. Fantastic collage art results from these steps!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Variety of art tissue paper colors
• Sharp scissors
• Sturdy white art paper
• White school glue (i.e. Elmer's)
• Soft, wide paint brush
• Water
• Eric Carle art for reference if desired

1. 
    
   Tissue Paper Collage Art

   Creating tissue paper art collage in the style of Eric Carle is surprisingly easy and effective using these steps. Capturing Carle's beautiful shape, form, color and composition are not as easy as he is a master of illustration. However, with these steps you, or your children/students, can create some fantastic looking artwork.

2. 
    
   Choose Art Tissue Paper

   Choose "art" tissue paper from a hobby or craft store. Regular tissue paper from the gift wrap department is too thick and will not bleed or blend the way art tissue paper does. The bleeding and blending when water and glue are applied are what give the artwork beautiful colors and effects. You will also need a pair of good, sharp scissors. Tissue paper is difficult to cut with dull scissors. If you are doing this with children, let them tear the shapes or you precut the shapes if desired.

3. 
    
   Choose Subject Matter

   Choose your subject matter. Keep in mind the size and number of things to be cut out of the tissue paper when planning your subject. While adults and older children can handle cutting small shapes out of tissue paper, younger children have a difficult time with this. Things like caterpillars and still life fruits and vegetables make great subjects for younger children still working on fine motor skills. Cut out all the pieces for your composition keeping in mind that some of the colors will bleed and blend. This is part of the charm and character of tissue paper collage.

4. 
    
   Composition

   Begin the tissue paper collage gluing process with a "dry run" by playing around with the composition on a spare piece of same sized paper until it is just right. This is essential to a good result as once tissue paper is placed on wet glue, it cannot be moved! Have a second piece of paper ready for the actual gluing down of your composition.

5. 
    
   Gluing the Collage

   Once you are sure where every piece will go, determine a good starting point for gluing. Use plain white glue, watered down about one-third water to two-thirds glue and mixed well. Brush a thin layer of glue over about a fourth of your white paper in the area you wish to start first. Lay the tissue paper pieces onto the wet glue smoothing out as many bumps and wrinkles as possible. Remember that some wrinkling and bubbling adds to the charm of this style of art. The next step brings it all together.

6. 
    
   Tissue Paper Art Collage

   The last step in making the collage is to do one light coat of the watered down glue over the entire picture. This helps to seal down any unglued edges, even out the glue coating, and once dry, gives the entire picture a look of having been lacquered. Your Eric Carle style tissue paper art collages are now complete!

Tips & Warnings

• After drying, artwork can be placed under a heavy book or other object for a day or so to minimize any warping. Using heavy art paper or poster board will also minimize warping.
• Picking up the tissue paper pieces to glue is easiest using the tip of the wet paint brush rather than your fingers which might be sticky with glue. Place the slightly damp brush on the tissue paper piece to pick it up and place it on the white paper rather than your fingers.

[k8sgrammy]

on 10/4/2009 This was exactly what I was looking for! I want to use this technique directly onto a small wooden (painted white) table & chairs for my granddaughter - sort of decoupage. Would this work? Would I need to polyurethane over it?

[orangejuice198]

on 3/6/2009 Oh! I can't believe I forgot to mention that you include several wonderful pictures! Thank you for your tutorial and I'm looking forward to more from you.

[orangejuice198]

on 3/6/2009 Fantastic How-to! Well-written, easy to understand directions and to top it off, you provide many excellent tips including the type of tissue paper to use and tools. Rated Excellent! :)

[FrazzledNanny]

on 1/31/2009 Great pictures and directions. Well written. Thanks! 5*

[Diligent77]

on 1/31/2009 This is a great idea and one I would love to do with my 3 year old. Thanks! 5* Added to my faves