Beginner's Collage Techniques

A Primer in Collage Art, Assemblage, Mixed Media

By Chris Dunmire

Welcome, collage-seeking artist! This is a comprehensive primer for beginner collage artists. The following tutorials demonstrate easy techniques for anyone, kids or adults, to create their own simple magazine collages, assemblages, and mixed media collages.

Fun examples of background and texture collage ideas, book cover collage, and experimental collage art are also provided to spark your creativity and imagination. Use these ideas to inspire your projects and create your own path of collage exploration.

Did you know that the famous trumpet-playing Louis Armstrong was also a paper-cutting collage artist? No kidding! I found this fun creative tidbit in the Reading Room of Oprah Magazine (April '09) in reference to a new book titled Satchmo: The Wonderful World and Art of Louis Armstrong (Abrams) by Steven Brower and Hilton Als.
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Collage Beginner's Tutorials

Part 1: Simple Magazine Collage
By Chris Dunmire
Here's a great place to begin experimenting with collage art. Arrange torn or cut papers from magazines into a nifty design.

Part 2: Assemblage Collage
By Chris Dunmire
Take your magazine collage a step further by adding found 3D objects to create an assemblage.

Part 3: Mixed Media Collage
By Chris Dunmire
Add paint or any other medium (charcoal, markers, pastels) to your collage and the result is a mixed media project.

Part 4: Book Cover Collage
By Chris Dunmire
Examples of book cover collage, a stepping stone into the world of altered books.

Part 5: Experimental Collage Textures
By Chris Dunmire
By using a variety of materials and techniques, you can discover "happy accidents" in texture design that adds to the appeal of your collage.

Part 6: Collage Combinations
By Chris Dunmire
Several more examples of background texture with magazine collage and other found elements to produce interesting collage art.