Herrontown Woods
Community Appreciation Collage Project
About the Project - Absolutely No Experience Necessary!
Being an artist deeply enamored with everything Herrontown Woods provides to the surrounding communities, I envisioned a perfect gift for the 'Woods' – a community visual art project where everyone, regardless of artistic background, could contribute their unique expressions of gratitude. In April (Earth Month), we will come together for the first celebration (music and merriment) following May’s Cafe when all these individual offerings will be layed together forming the community collage and ultimately will be placed on permanent exhibit at Herrontown Woods.
Herrontown Woods Community Appreciation Collage Sign-Up Form
Getting Started
Once you sign-up for the project, you will receive a complimentary 6x6 canvas board ‘collage tile’ (your individual collage offering) and a journal (to use as your project diary to jot down ideas, drawings, doodles and reflections throughout the project.) The gallery below are just a few samples I made with different materials for reference only. Please let your imagination run free….
Your Canvas ‘Tile’ - Where to Begin?
The materials below are just a starting point. Don't be afraid to experiment! Feeling nervous? Grab your journal and test out any materials that catch your eye. Remember, it's all about exploration and having fun!
Oil Pastels (CrayPas)
Watercolor Paints, Pencils, Crayons
Paints – Acrylics, Oils, Water based Oils
Fabrics
Yarns
Natural Found Things – Leaves, Flower Petals, Lichen, Pine Cones, Tree Bark
Recycled Papers
Specialty Papers
Stickers
Glitter
Metallic Candy Wrappers - various colors available
Magazines (for text, phrases, and pictures)
Photographs (Smart Phone, DSLR or Film Camera) Print to 6x6.
Papier Mache
*Be on the lookout for anything that catches your eye at home, on the street or recycle bins. It is amazing what you can find when you are on a creative mission.
Your Project Journal - Some Suggestions to get you started
Your journal is your personal companion throughout the community collage project! Use it to explore nature, brainstorm ideas, experiment with materials, and plan your tile design. Sketch, doodle, write notes, and reflect on your journey. Remember, check self-doubt and judgment at the door. There are no mistakes, only discoveries. Be bold, be creative, and let your imagination soar. Together, we will create something beautiful!
Sketches and Thumbnails: Make small sketches or thumbnails in your journal experimenting with different compositions and layouts, to determine the best approach for your canvas tile.
Color Palettes: Explore and experiment with color palettes in your journal. Consider colors and tones that reflect the changing seasons at Herrontown Woods or choose your personal favorite colors.
Word Associations: Jot down words or short phrases that come to mind when you think about Herrontown Woods. These words can serve as inspiration for visual elements.
Personal Reflections: Use your journal as a space for personal reflections on experiences in Herrontown Woods or nature in general. These reflections can inform the emotional content and narrative of your canvas ‘tile’.
Material Exploration: If using materials other than paint (let your imagination run free) such as fabric, leaves, magazine images, text,) lay them out on a separate piece of paper in different positions, sketch each layout (or take a photo) for reference, until you find just the right combination for your canvas ‘tile’.
Collaborative Ideas: During the process if you are open to collaboration, feel free to share your journal ideas with others doing the Community Collage which can lead to developing interconnected themes across multiple canvas tiles.
Imagine your creative voice echoing through Herrontown Woods! This project invites you to craft a unique canvas "tile" expressing your appreciation for nature and the beauty of this special place. Join us on April 7th at May's Cafe as part of a special Earth Month gathering, where all these tiles will come together to form the stunning Herrontown Woods Community Appreciation Collage. Please join us this fall for the unveiling celebration (details to follow), where you'll be among the first to see the completed artwork, which will then be permanently displayed at Herrontown Woods for all to enjoy. Thank you for being a part of this meaningful project!
If you wish to create more than one ‘tile’ for the collage, you can order a 12 pack through Amazon (click on the link below.) The Glues Listed are the glues I used on the Sample Tiles above and are also through Amazon (click the links below.)
Vendor - Amazon
6x6 Canvas Panel ‘tiles’ for collage
Link: Amazon Phoenix 6x6 Canvas Panel (12 Pack)
Glues
Mod Podge - To adhere paper, photos, leaves etc. to canvas ‘tiles’ - Click on the links below for Matte or Gloss
