I am completing the preparation of my next homeschool coop art class... 8"x10" collage portraits in homage of Chuck Close (amazing collage artist who used perfectly shaded handmade pulp) and in a milder way, Andy Warhol (the up-close-and-personal shot.) Chuck Close gained recognition in the 1970's and stated, "How an artist chooses to do something is often as important as what the artist chooses to do." I believe there is merit in that statement.
In my case, the art of collage will be suitably taught with store bought papers! Additionally, (ref. top photo) the students will work from a photograph as you can see the gray printed portion of their photo which is the base of the collage. I have used photoshop to "poster-edge" the pictures and make the changes in skin tone easier to discern. Additionally, this gives the eyes a neat look -- the irises will not be collaged and the eye lashes are re-drawn with pen. That would be just too much to ask of a group of students aging from 7-14! Besides, no one has even noticed that the technique changed in those areas!
So I am off to collect my papers and sort them for the groups, print my photographs, and gather glue sticks. With some patience these portraits could be great Christmas gifts!
