Painted Papers & Collage: From Texture to Composition

Instructor: Suzanne Findeisen

This workshop invites participants to explore the creative process of painting papers and transforming them into vibrant, layered collages. Using acrylic paint, found papers, and mark making tools, students will first create a unique collection of textured and patterned papers.

Techniques will include stenciling, scraping, layering, and color mixing, with inspiration drawn from natural forms, textures, and personal imagery. Participants will experiment with recycled materials such as newspaper, packaging paper, junk mail, and book pages, building up surface interest and discovering new visual possibilities in everyday items. Once the papers are dried, sorted, and trimmed, we'll move into the collage phase-learning how to plan a background, develop composition using symmetry or movement, and glue down layers with care.

Students will have the option to collage onto a variety of surfaces, including canvas, wooden panels, book covers, or found objects like jars and boxes. I will provide wood…