Collage Integration

By Sal Scheibe
This article originally appeared in ArtTrader Magazine, Autumn 2010 Issue 12

The integration of collage elements is what brings most images to life. Integration can be a mix of colors, images, themes or techniques. Integration of collage elements is the glue that gives your art a cohesive look or style.

Collage integration is quite subjective and can be something of a taste issue. Some artists prefer clean, minimal lines and others prefer paintovers and all sorts of the messier mixed media techniques. Regardless of tastes, there are some basic ways that everyone can integrate their collage elements so that they form a more cohesive and balanced image.

Themed Elements

A great way to integrate your collage elements is by theme. The image at left, “Are we there yet?” uses maps to create the landscape and a vintage car to tie in with the travel theme. All of these elements are brought together with a common color theme with the greens and the blues. Additional integration is achieved by using white gel pens to add whimsical elements on the clouds and hills.

Color

Color is the perfect way to integrate your collage, even if you don’t have themed elements. In the ATC at right, blues and greens have been used on all elements (background and foreground) to tie the elements together with color. In this case, it wasn’t at all necessary to have matching theme elements since a watercolor paint wash on the background and on the girl’s skin along with gel pen markings was all that was needed to integrate this piece of art. The black and white stripes also help to bring the piece together.

Style & Narrative

Collages can be brought together by style and narrative. Of course, style is personal and we all have our own so the style below reflects the way I do things, not necessarily how another would do them. In this case (image pictured below), I’ve used a gritty, steampunkish type of style with faded out washes to depict a grey workers’ world where people are living hand to mouth for pennies. The skies are dark and stormy because people feel repressed and depressed. Ok, so it’s a little dark! But that was the narrative behind the image. I’ve married this narrative (story of the piece) to the style of gritty, washed out colors and steampunk elements to tie into the industrial revolution and era (ie smokestacks, fog, analog systems, etc.).

Try to think ahead when you’re forming your ideas. Collages often work better when there is conscious thought and planning on themes, colors and narratives. If you can incorporate all three elements into your art, then your collage should turn out to be nicely integrated and coherent to the viewer.