Fifties Woman ~ torn paper collage

12x12 torn paper collage on gallery wrap canvas done yesterday after working on it 2.5 days. An imaginary face that reminds me of women in the 1950s, the nostalgic hairstyle and clothing. COPYRGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Eye of the Hummingbird ~ torn paper collage

12x12 paper on canvas, today's work done for my torn paper collage class.  Using a previous watercolor of a hummer for reference, the bird was sketched in pencil on canvas, then a black marker over that.  His eye is actually a watch face and beak is a red umbrella.  Hope everyone had a great time.  Our next class will be in April, tentative date 21st.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Happy Holstein ~ torn paper collage on canvas

16x20 torn paper collage on wrapped canvas completed today after two days of working on it.  Another in my funky contemporary cow series, this black & white cow seems to be eyeing a bird close by.  This is my first collage featuring a cow.  After the sides are done, I will apply gloss medium varnish several times to seal it and make it shiny.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Valentine Heart WIP step 2 torn paper collage

12x12 torn paper collage on canvas board, a work in progress in my series on hearts for Valentine's Day.  Here in this view you can see beginning background is composed of patterns in neutrals of brown, beige, black and white which will let the vivid red and red oranges show up more.  Part of the patterns are an animal print for that wild at heart person.  I will replace the letter 'H' on heart once I find one larger.  Stay tuned for the finish tomorrow.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Torn Paper Collage - step by step

SUPPLIES:  12x12 wrapped cotton canvas, black felt tip marker to draw mug design (mistakes don't matter).

 Glossy magazines with colorful photos you'll tear, not cut, with your hands.  Here are several favorites.

Jar of matt or matte medium to adhere torn pieces, one craft brush, and a table to lay canvas flat.  Decide if you want a warm or cool colored mug; I like hot colors so this'll be mostly oranges, yellows, pinks, and reds with a few cool accents for balance

 Close up of color combinations and black pieces for the coffee or tea; brush thin coat medium onto canvas then brush on top of paper, pressing out any bubbles

Left mug edge was a natural line found in an ad; these are good if you can find lines or curves with a good color on other side

 More warm colors added with cool accents of blues and greens. Don't worry about ragged jagged edges!

 More oranges and magenta pinks added to saucer covering up my bad drawing on left side. Remember you can cover over an area you dislike

 Background coming into focus now that'll be mostly white with pink touches, coffee or tea references, and I added a bunny for Spring. White shouldn't have lots of color on reverse side as it might show through the medium.  I added different blue/green pattern inside of mug rim that was a bracelet ad

 More patterns added here and there; I'm not liking the magenta mug bottom so may collage on top of that.  Sides are done last after finishing up the bottom here.

 

Final step! I added three red strawberries to right side of saucer and one on its left.  Finished! Now to coat with several, maybe 5 brushed on gloss medium varnish layers for shine and to protect/seal the collage.  Sign with black permanent marker, add wire and hooks to the back and it is ready to hang in someone's kitchen!

Coffee or Tea 12x12 torn paper collage on canvas COPYRIGHT March 11, 2014 Kay Smith

Red Amaryllis torn paper collage

24x20 collage on canvas completed today after 2 more hours of getting all the values and colors correct.  I hope it reads okay! Thanks for everyone who has commented on this one so far; it was loads of fun.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.

Amaryllis WIP step 4 torn paper collage

24x20 WIP (work in progress) continues with the background blues added today and other touch ups for about 2 hours time.  I'm not sure the large dark green leaf lower left is light enough.  On the monitor it appears too dark value, almost black.  But in real life it isn't. More yellow was added for stamens that were tiny lemons in the photo I tore up.  I still think Santa is a nice touch along with a torn word Believe.  Go Red for Woman phrase is also put at lower left of its red petal.  The other bloom behind it hopefully is not competing for attention.  So stay tuned and you may see its finish tomorrow or the next day; tomorrow are three Christmas parties, two at work and the third is our Big Spring Art Association.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.

Amaryllis WIP step 3 torn paper collage

24x20 collage or red lion amaryllis work in progress continues with several hours done this afternoon.  I want the background more turquoise blue and the stamens to be more prominent.  There is a Santa within the petals; see if you can spot him.  Tomorrow this should be finished.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.

Red Amaryllis WIP torn paper collage

 After 2 hours yesterday this is as far as I got with the amaryllis flower and leaves.  Paper scraps are torn and adhered with acrylic matte medium onto dry canvas, then the medium is brushed over the top.  Stay tuned to this work in progress collage.

Initial line drawing from life with black Sharpie on 24x20 wrapped canvas begun yesterday; this icy weather was perfect for the subject matter to do a torn paper collage.

Scarlet Macaw - torn paper collage

10x10 torn paper collage on wrapped canvas, my demo from yesterday's class.  I drew the parrot with black felt tip permanent marker after gessoing the canvas, then began tearing, not cutting, paper from quality magazines and adhering with matte medium.  Today I spent 2 more hours getting him done.  There's a frog, a paintbrush, a butterfly, bracelets, rooster, red jalapeno pepper, steamer pot, trivets, a green colander, apple, chair, etc., within the square composition.  Tomorrow I'll apply varnish medium to seal it and make it shiny.

Collage WIP Watermelon Still Life

Now you can see what all I got done in 2 more hours today, all of the melon and its pieces, and even going back to adjust values here and there. I thought the red zinnias were a nice touch.