Collage is the technique used to combine and arrange pieces of paper, photographs, fabric and other ephemera onto a surface. It is also a way of grouping together artworks which are made using this technique. Many famous artists throughout history, like Kara Walker, Pablo Picasso, Hannah Höch, Wangechi Mutu and Henri Matisse, have made collage works.

Paper collage gained popularity during the Industrial Revolution, when the printing press became automated and printed paper became cheap and easy to find. However, today collages are made with 2D and 3D materials.

Gather together your materials onto a space that is clear and ready for art making, as paint can stain surfaces and clothes.

Begin with your smaller pieces of cardboard, putting your big piece to the side. The big piece will be used as the background and will not be painted, as colouring the background can affect how well the glue sticks. Paint the smaller pieces in colours of your choosing. (You can also use pencil crayons or markers instead of paints). You can make each piece a single colour, or multiple colours. Allow them to dry before moving on to the next step.

Cut your small colourful pieces of cardboard into various shapes. Simple shapes like triangles, rectangles, circles and squares work best, but you can also cut out recognizable shapes, like clouds, trees and more.

Once all your pieces are cut, arrange them on your large background piece of cardboard. Move them around until you find a composition that looks beautiful to you. Now glue them in place, making sure to press down firmly so they stick.

Allow your new artwork to dry fully, and it’s ready to display!

Post your creations on Twitter, hashtag them with #MacLarenFamilySunday and mention us @MacLarenArt so we can retweet all your creative work!