Do You Want to Make a Collage?

By Raymond Horner

What is a collage? (ko-lahj’)

A collage is pasting or gluing papers or two-dimensional objects onto a surface.

What is an assemblage?(AH-SEM-BLAHJ’)

If you think of the word assembly the definition becomes somewhat clear. Assemblage is a combination of three-dimensional objects glued to a surface. . These objects can be anything organic or man-made. Scraps of wood, stones, old shoes, baked bean cans and a discarded baby buggy – or any of the other 84,000,000 items not here mentioned by name – all qualify for inclusion in an assemblage. Whatever catches the artist’s eye, and fits properly in the composition to make a unified whole, works. Please note , therefore, that these pieces are not covered with glass or plexiglass.

What are some basic steps for making a collage?

Use poster board or heavy cardboard. Choose a size that will be big enough for your pictures.

• Gather pictures from a magazine, your personal photos, color paper and any two dimensional mementos, such as ticket stubs, that will fit onto the board and are light-weight.

• Cut around the part of the picture you want to include in the collage.

How do I prepare the board?

• All surfaces should be free of dirt and grease.

• If needed, sand surface to insure proper adhesion to smooth surfaces such as plastic, metal and glass.

• Absorbent Surfaces, such as paper, canvas and wood usually need no preparation.

• Arrange each picture and two dimensional object on the poster board before you glue. Try different arrangements until you get one that looks just right.

What type of medium should I use?

Liquitex Acrylic Mediums are available in several formulations that vary in thickness and sheen. While each medium can be used with a variety of materials, some materials may require a specific medium.

For light weight and flat materials (paper, canvas, etc.) use Liquitex using the fluid or the gel.

For heavy weight and 3-D materials (beads, rocks, etc.): Use Liquitex Gel Mediums.

How do they look when dry?

Liquitex fluid mediums

The gloss mediums and varnish

• Dries clear with a gloss finish.

The Matte Mediums

• Best adhesive qualities of any Fluid Medium.

• Dries translucent to opaque with a matte finish.

Liquitex Gel Mediums

The Gloss mediuims

• Dries clear-translucent with a gloss finish.

The Matte Gel Mediuim

• Best adhesive qualities of any Gel Medium

• Dries translucent to opaque with a matte finish.

Gloss Heavy Gel Medium

• Dries clear, translucent with a gloss finish.

How do I apply the medium?

• Apply the Liquitex Acrylic Medium to collage material, substrate or both.

• While acrylic medium is still wet, apply collage material to surface.

• If acrylic medium is absorbed into collage surface (some papers are very absorbent). Allow medium to dry. Apply a second coat. The second coat will not be absorbed by the collaged surface.

• If the acrylic medium is drying too fast, keep environment cool and humid.

How long should it dry?

• Allow acrylic medium to fully dry. Fluid Mediums 1-4 hours, gel mediums 24-72 hours, depending upon thickness of application.

• Use glue or a glue stick. Dab lightly on the back of the item you’re putting on the poster board. Press lightly.

• Let it dry.

• It is now ready to frame.

WHAT SUPPLIES DO I NEED?

MEDIUMS

• Gel Medium

• Gloss Medium

• Matte Medium

• Acrylic Medium