Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Art Adventure: Pixelated Collage

Welcome to the first Art Adventure of 2012.

Collage is the art of combining pieces of different pictures, papers, fabric, photos or other items to create a composition. There are actually a lot more techniques to choose from than just simple cut and paste, so I will show you one. This is something that my 7 year old was capable of with help and supervision. For my youngest, he's still in the simple cut and paste mode and that's okay too. It's still a lot of fun.

Pixelated Collage

Supplies:
  • 2 copies of the exact same image
  • ruler
  • pencil
  • scissors or paper cutter
  • glue stick
  • 2 pieces of card stock or heavy blank paper


First, you need a picture. Could be anything. I used a free train picture from the internet because Gabe loves trains. I simply printed it two times. Just make sure you have two exact copies of the same picture.


We are going to make strips out of the pictures, so use consistent measurements. We used 1/2 inch, but you can change that if you picture is a much different size.


On one image, mark every 1/2 inch across the each side, line your ruler up to the marks and draw the straight line to connect. Do this all the way across, dividing your picture into 1/2 inch horizontal strips.



On the OTHER image, mark every 1/2 inch on the top and bottom and connect. Do this all the way up and down, dividing your picture into 1/2 inch vertical strips.



For both, use either scissors or a paper cutter and cut each strip leaving them attached on one side by about a 1/4 of an inch.


If you accidentally cut through, it's okay, it just makes the next part a little easier to have them attached.



Now, it's time to weave the pictures together. It's a simple basket weave, under-over-under-over, etc. We kept our verticals intact. Cut the first strip from the horizontals off and begin weaving. Try to line the edges of the image up.


Then cut the next strip off and weave over-under-over-under, etc. The opposite of the first. You may need to slide and tighten up the strips after each one.


Just keep going until all are weaved. The image should still be recognizable, but now it looks pixelated or even sort of foggy.



Add some glue to either the back of the woven image or a piece of card stock and glue together. 


Next, just to hold the strips all together, make a simple frame from the other piece of card stock.

Measure how big you want your opening, and cut out the center (I had to do this part for Gabe), add glue to the frame and press down. This seals in all the strips and makes a nice finished look.


Gabe really liked the outcome, and he has a lot of patience when it comes to art projects. This is something I saved for middle schoolers when I taught, but one on one with Gabe was fine.



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