When I was asked to be in the Green Revolution show at Tempe Center for the Arts I was also asked to teach a family workshop inspired by my artwork. To create my artwork I use wax, photography and found objects. This Recycled Collage project for children and adults uses simpler materials that can create a very similar result. This project is great because you don’t need all new materials from the art store to create a fun, exciting piece of art. You can even improvise if you don’t have some of the materials. For the workshop I taught at Tempe Center for the Arts we used recycled book boards instead of cardboard boxes because I found them at the Art Resource Center.
For this project you will need:
- Old Magazines – I used copies of National Geographic I found at a resale shop
- Old Cardboard Boxes (cut down to 8 x 8 inches, use the side without graphics)
- Crayons or Pastels
- Glue Stick
- Scissors
- String, pipe cleaners or garden wire
- Pine cones, tree bark or any other interesting think you find outside (preferably without dirt or bugs)
- Sharp Pencil
Step 1
Take a walk around your neighborhood or visit the park and pick up interesting organic material. I love tree bark but anything that won’t wilt, like fresh flowers and leaves, will work. Try looking for pine cones, dried seed pods or sticks. Tip: if you think there may be bugs in your found objects, place it in the microwave for a few seconds.
Step 2
Flip through old magazines and tear out the pages you like. To create a collage like mine choose one landscape photo and cut it in half. You can also choose multiple pictures and cut them to whatever size you like. Glue the magazine images to the side of your cardboard without graphics.
Step 3
Use crayons or pastels to draw shapes or pictures next to the magazine photos (or on top of them). To create a collage like mine draw shapes you find in your magazine photo.
Step 4
Choose where you want to place the object you found outside on your cardboard. Using the pencil poke 2 holes in the cardboard where you want to place the object. Wrap your string, pipe cleaners or garden wire around your object and through the 2 holes. Turn the cardboard around and tie the string, pipe cleaners or garden wire to hold the image in place.
That’s it! You’ve just created a wonderful piece of art using mostly recycled or found materials. If you are like me you couldn’t choose just one object when you walked around outside. You might have to make another collage…
