A collage is an artwork made by assembling different materials (like paper, fabric, photos, or found objects) onto a surface to create a unified design. What makes it unique is the layering and combining of elements that weren’t originally meant to go together, often to express a theme, tell a story, or explore texture and color.
- Advertisement Collage – Promotes an idea, event, or product with catchy images and layout
- Advocacy Collage – Expresses a belief or social issue using bold visuals and meaningful symbols
- Collect-a-Week Collage – Built from items gathered over time (receipts, tickets, wrappers) to tell a story
- Color Collage – Focuses on one color or theme (e.g., patriotic, cool tones) to explore visual harmony and emotion
- Cubomania – A surrealist style where an image is cut into squares and rearranged randomly to disrupt meaning
- Found Object Collage – Built from everyday or discarded items (chips, napkins, wrappers) for a 3D effect
- Harmony Collage – Uses colors and shapes that feel balanced and peaceful, often with soft transitions
- Nature Collage – Uses leaves, twigs, grass, and other natural items to create organic designs
- Photo Collage – Uses printed or digital photos arranged by theme, story, or mood
- Quilt Collage – Mimics quilt patterns using paper or fabric squares, often with symbolic meaning
- Rubbings Collage – Made by rubbing crayons over textured surfaces and layering the results
- Self-Portrait Collage – Represents identity using symbolic images, textures, or words
- Sensory Collage – Designed to stimulate touch, sight, or sound—often used for accessibility or STEM
- Textured Collage – Uses materials with tactile surfaces (like fabric, foil, fuzz) to create depth and sensory interest
- Timeline Collage – Combines images and text to show historical progression or personal growth
Collage Definition
A collage, by definition, involves assembling different materials onto a surface. What makes it a collage is the layering and combining of separate elements that weren’t originally designed to go together.
So, if a scout only draws or colors without adding or arranging distinct pieces, it’s not technically a collage. This is a drawing or painting. However, if they cut out their own drawings and layer them, or combine colored sections with other materials (like textured paper or photos), it becomes a collage.
A mosaic is like a cousin to collage. Mosaics use small, uniform pieces (like tiles or beans) arranged into a pattern, while collages are more flexible and often mix textures, images, and found objects.
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