COLLAGE AND MONTAGE

Cat's Cradle, Acrylic, Collage (21x24") © Ruth Zachary

MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE AND MONTAGE

Realism or Objective Subject Matter. I worked with realistic subjects such as figures, landscapes, and wildlife for the first half of my artistic life. When working in color, I used water color, and other painting mediums. The way I work has evolved over years.

Montage. I discovered montage while working in photography, in the darkroom. I began experimenting with double exposures, and image overlays. I used realistic imagery, with two or more scenes in one compostion, which is known as montage.

Collage. When I attended an art class at Western Michigan University, I was given.

an assignment to work with collage, using thin layers of tissue paper. Collage can use realistic imagery as well as non objective composition. I have intermittently used collage, selecting papers, cuttings from magazines, wrapping papers, experimentally painted and printed papers, photo textures, fabrics, lace, and more.

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Often when creating a composition with collage, an artist uses painted or pre-printed papers and takes pieces that have been cut or torn into shapes and adheres them to a foundation. This may be a primed (prepared) board or canvas, or canvas panel. Acrylic medium is usually used to adhere the materials to the board. These are well saturated with the medium so they shrink to fit tightly over the surface once dry.

Mixed Media. Using two or more media in the course of creating a composition produces a mixed media art piece.  I may start with an acrylic gesso coated surface, and paint acrylic pigments over that surface to delineate the shapes and colors I hope to use. I prefer to keep the first layers smooth and without texture, so the collage materials will fuse to the surface as easily as possible. Once  the painting is complete, it needs to be varnished. 

If it is not complete, it is still possible to use collage materials, arranging shapes or images over the surface and adhered among the painted elements. Finishing a collage or acrylic painting includes using acrylic varnish (I prefer matte) to seal the surface.
More textured materials can be added over the first layers when dry. I have used sand, fabrics, found objects, thick acrylic pigments, applied with a palette knife, and other textural materials, to achieve a surface with more depth.

Oil Colors. In another (usually last) step, once everything is totally dry, it is also possible to use oil based colors over all. I love oils because they have a buttery texture that conveys a richness and depth after they are dry. If oil paint has been the last layer of pigment,  it must be dried thoroughly. Then it is sealed with damar varnish, to protect the surface. Damar can be removed later for cleaning if ever necessary.     

Reserved Seating. Acrylic and Collage on canvas.             ©by Ruth Zachary

To see more of this type of artwork, with methodology and techniques, visit Ruth Zachary Montage, a blog  maintained between 2008 and 2013.