Emotion Collage

by Peggy Ross

Students will express their emotions through paper collage.

Learning Target

● I can represent emotions through collage art using textured & colored papers.

Materials

● Sturdy paper for collage foundation

● Glue stick,

● Scissors

● Pens/Markers

● Watercolors, brushes, paper for painting

● Drawing paper

● Collected papers such as junk mail, magazines, newspapers, used gift wrap, etc.

Instructions

1. Collect & Create Papers

● Collect recyclable papers such as junk mail, magazines, newspaper, used gift wrap, paper bags, etc.

● Create watercolor painted papers. Wet paper all over the surface. Add drops of paint, letting the water spread and mix. Or, brush dashes and dots of paint onto dry paper.

● Create textured and colorful papers using a variety of pens and pencils.

● Add more texture and designs to dried, painted papers with pen lines.

2. Select & Reflect

● Gather and look over all your papers. Choose three favorites.
● What colors and textures do you see?
● What do they make you think of?
● What emotions fit with them?
● Which emotion is the primary one?

Select more papers that reflect your primary emotion. Choose lines, shapes, textures and colors that communicate this emotion. Gather more than enough papers to cover your foundation paper.

3, Design & Collage

Lay out a collage background. Overlap larger pieces of paper, completely covering the foundation paper. Cut or tear decorative edges to further communicate the emotion. Do NOT GLUE yet!

Choose detail pieces to layer on top of the back- ground. Do you want to  cut out a shape or image? Do NOT glue yet. Move pieces around until you are satisfied with the layout.

4. Glue Collage

When the design is the way you want it, take a mental or real picture. Thoughtfully glue down pieces, beginning with the background and working up to the top layer. Temporarily move things aside if needed. Focus on gluing the edges of each piece.

Reflection

Write or Draw in your journal or sketchbook

● Does your collage still go with your original emotion, or has it changed? Can you think of a title?
● What part of the project relaxed you? What part stressed you? Why?
● What challenges did you have when glueing the collage pieces down? What strategies did you use to keep your layout design?

Extra

● Make a collage to communicate how you are feeling. What colors/textures can show that emotion?
● Go for a walk and collect some things from nature (twigs, leaves, pebbles, shells, sand, etc.). Make a collage out of your collection. Does the collage represent how you felt while walking?
● Use 3D things to make a collage (boxes, bottle caps, shells, egg cartons, etc.). This is called an assemblage. How will you connect and attach the pieces?