Grades K–2 · Arts & Music
How does a collage make a picture from other pieces?
A collage is made by arranging and joining separate pieces on a supporting surface. A piece of colored paper can become a hill, while a patterned piece can become part of a house.
In the diagramOverlapping paper makes a new sceneseparate shapesjoined layers
Pieces placed on top hide parts of the pieces underneath. Their edges become lines in the picture. Moving one shape can therefore change both its own place and how much of another shape is visible.
Adhesive holds the chosen arrangement together. The artist has made a new picture using materials that already had colors and textures. The pieces can still be recognized up close even when they work together as one scene.
About this explanation
Starting knowledge: Recognize paper shapes and understand that one piece can cover part of another.
Sources
- National Gallery of Art — Art Starters: Romare Bearden