Collage Faces
The Set Up
Take inspiration from the Dada artists, especially Hannah Höch, who cut and rearranged the everyday into something playful and strange. I once found an old stained glass reference book in a thrift shop, dusty and forgotten. Its colourful pages became some of the most magical collage material I have ever used. The more unusual the source, the better the surprises!
Cut simple oval bases for faces and spread them across the table. Add trays of pre cut facial features or invite artists to cut their own. Packs of ready made eyes, noses, and mouths from art suppliers can be a fun shortcut if you want to dive straight in, but scavenged scraps always bring more character. I've found a great pack of collage creatures from Zart Art here in Australia.
The Making
Begin with an oval base and let the personality build from there. Maybe it needs eyes cut from a fashion magazine, or a nose borrowed from a piece of patterned paper? Keep adding until the face starts to tell you who it is. Some turn out glamorous, others look a little monstrous, and a few sit somewhere in between. There is no right way to finish, you just stop when the character staring back feels complete.
Variations
Add fashion magazines for older artists who want to cut their own material.
Extend the process with a conversation about Dada and how artists turned ordinary scraps into extraordinary art.
Try working on a giant group face where everyone adds one feature (the results are always wild!).
Materials
Cardstock or paper ovals as bases
Magazines, thrifted books, patterned papers
Pre cut eyes, noses, mouths (optional)
Scissors and glue sticks
Optional extras: stickers, textured papers, fabric scraps