Get ready to embrace a burst of vibrant colors and bring the lusciousness of fruits to life with this captivating family painting and drawing craft: mixed media fruit collage. This creative project will allow you to explore various techniques and materials, resulting in a stunning artwork that celebrates nature's bountiful offerings. Our Amber Artists, Crimson Creators, and Blue Brushes students all completed this project this week, and the results were exquisite! So, let's dive in and create a visual feast for the eyes! This project is a mixed media art project, which means we will be combining drawing, painting, and collage (cutting and gluing paper) all together.
If you want to take an amazing art class with other creative people your age, secure your spot for our Fall semester HERE! We have all kinds of classes, including Combination (classes that explore multiple kinds of art) and Special Focus (classes that dive into one specific kind of art, such as watercolor or drawing).
Class sizes range from 5-15 students each, allowing for one-on-one time with the teacher or assistants in class. Join us for an artistic, creative adventure this Fall!
Materials Needed:
Watercolor paper
Watercolor paints
Brushes
Oil pastels
Scissors
Glue
Background paper (watercolor or scrapbook paper)
Cup or circular template for drawing fruit shapes
Step 1: Prepare the Background
To create a vibrant base for your collage, either watercolor wet-on-wet all over a piece of watercolor paper or select a suitable background paper from a larger piece of scrapbook paper. The choice is yours! Let your creativity guide you in selecting colors and patterns that complement the fruit theme.
Step 2: Paint and Design Fruit
Take another piece of watercolor paper and divide it into two halves. On one half, experiment with the dry-brush technique by using watercolor paints to create abstract patterns and colors. This half will be used to cut out fun details, such as leaves and vines, later. On the other half, use oil pastels to draw fruit shapes. For example, draw circles for fruits like oranges, lemons, or apples. Add citrus designs inside, such as crisscrossing lines and seeds for a lime-like appearance.
These are the watercolor sets we use in class for our older kid, adult, and senior classes!
Step 3: Paint Over Fruit
Once the oil pastel drawing is complete, apply a watercolor wet-on-wet technique over the top to create a soft, blended effect over the fruit. The oil pastels will "resist" the paint, or push away the paint so you will still be able to see the drawing you did under the paint colors.
Paint your fruit with these high quality watercolor brushes we sell in our store!
Step 4: Cut Out Fruit and Details
Carefully cut out the watercolor-ed fruit shapes and separate them from the paper. Additionally, cut out leaves, vines, or any other decorative/detail elements you desire from the dry-brush painted half of the paper. Feel free to experiment with different fruit shapes, sizes, and foliage, as this will add depth and interest to your collage.
Step 5: Arrange and Glue
Lay out your cut-out fruit shapes and other decorative elements on the prepared background paper. Take your time to arrange them in a pleasing composition, experimenting with different placements and combinations until you are satisfied. Once you are content with the arrangement, carefully glue each element down, ensuring that they adhere securely to the background.
Congratulations! You have successfully created a vibrant and visually striking mixed media fruit collage. This artistic journey allowed you to explore the beautiful fusion of watercolors, oil pastels, and paper cutting. The combination of techniques and materials resulted in a captivating artwork that celebrates the allure and vibrancy of fruits. Now, find a special place to display your masterpiece and let it inspire and delight all who behold it. Enjoy the fruits of your creative labor!
