You will need:
- Long white piece of paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Different colors of construction paper
- Glue
- Optional: Straight edge
Collages by Henri Matisse
1. Matisse, in the last decades of his career, went from painting to collage or cut paper. He painted the paper himself (with the help of his assistants) with gouache paint to create numerous and varied different colors. Create a very colorful background of rectangular and square shapes first, on the long white paper. This creates a wonderful backdrop and contrast for the organic shapes to go on top. Use many different sizes and colors and then glue those shapes to cover much of the white paper. A straight edge can be used to make straight lines, if needed.
1. Matisse, in the last decades of his career, went from painting to collage or cut paper. He painted the paper himself (with the help of his assistants) with gouache paint to create numerous and varied different colors. Create a very colorful background of rectangular and square shapes first, on the long white paper. This creates a wonderful backdrop and contrast for the organic shapes to go on top. Use many different sizes and colors and then glue those shapes to cover much of the white paper. A straight edge can be used to make straight lines, if needed.
2. Use those same colors – plus black and white, to make very organic shapes. They, too, should vary in size and shape. One way to think of it is to stylize shapes in nature, like leaves, plants, flowers, insects, etc. Remember black and white are great colors to use on top of the colorful background as well. Lay them out first to determine if more shapes are needed.
3. Once the layout of the shapes on the background is to your satisfaction, then carefully glue down each shape to the background.
