Collage: An artistic composition of fragments (as of printed matter) pasted on a picture surface. — The Merriam-Webster Dictionary

How to Create Collage Art with Magazine Elements

Creative Cut and Paste

Magazine collage is a great place to begin experimenting with the exciting world of collage. As a beginner, using predefined elements from magazine sources will help you to better focus on the elements and principles of design in your composition.

A Quick Word about Copyright

The collage examples in this tutorial utilizing magazine elements, photos, or artwork by other artists are for illustrative purposes only. It's important to remember that any collage art you create using other people's copyrighted photos or artwork should be for personal, experimental use only. It would be a violation of copyright law to incorporate anyone else's creative work into your artwork without their express permission if you intend to publish or profit from it in any way.

The most sound advice about copyright issues we can offer is this: If you intend to create collage (or any other) art for other than personal, experimental purposes — create, photograph, or design your own original elements; or use items in the public domain so infringing on someone else's copyright will never be an issue.

For now, leave behind all of life's rules and regulations. Get ready to explore the fascinating world of collage, and play in your own experimental world of artistic expression.

Part 1: How to Magazine Collage

Materials Needed:

• A variety of magazines
• White or clear glue, Modge Podge, or glue stick
• Paint brush
• Scissors
• Newspaper
• Illustration board, wood panel, or other thick support that won't warp when wet
• Paper towels
• Water

Set up: Clear a workspace for yourself on a table. Spread out the newspaper and place your support on top. Get all of your materials together and place them within reach of your workspace.

Step One: Look through your assortment of magazines and cut or tear out pictures, elements and shapes that you like. Notice the colors, textures, and designs of your elements.

Step Two: Arrange the pieces on your support in a design you like. Experiment with several variations and notice the different effects of your designs. Add, subtract, tear, and cut your elements until you're satisfied with your composition.

Step Four: After all pieces are glued down, allow your collage to dry completely. You're finished! Want to take it a step further? Move on to part two where we'll add some found objects to our collage to make an assemblage.