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Techniques for Illustrators: The Art of Collage

Push your creative skills further and enhance your art portfolio with expert collage techniques from Leeds Arts University.

A green and yellow floral collage made using a variety of textures

Techniques for Illustrators: The Art of Collage

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Cut, paste, and create art collages that bring your illustrations to life

Collage has inspired artists for generations because it breaks free from traditional image-making methods. This mixed media art form can been a catalyst for bold experimentation and fresh perspectives.

Discover what collage can do for you – and your art – on this four-week course from Leeds Arts University.

As you explore textures, mark-making and shape, you’ll develop your creative process and your own unique approach to collage. This will elevate your skills and expand your artistic vision.

Work with collage materials

You’ll begin this online creative course by experimenting with a variety of materials to create handmade textures, and learning how to layer and manipulate different elements to bring your artistic ideas to life.

Piece together collage processes

You’ll then refine your collage-making skills by experimenting with texture, shape and tonal combinations. You will explore abstract shapes and pattern in response to subject matter.

You’ll discover how to layer materials thoughtfully to create depth and harmony in your work while developing your own process for building dynamic, visually engaging collages.

Bring your collage to life

Next you will delve into designing and making collages that explore colour, texture, tone and shape.

Through sketchbook experimentation, you’ll refine your ideas, using colour and texture to add depth and personality to your work.

As you work towards your final piece, you’ll reflect on your process and consider how to further develop your concept, bringing everything together into a finished piece.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Texture Creation for Collage

    • Black and White Texture Experiments

      Welcome to the course

      Get familiar with the course content, your course creator (Pat) and what you'll be doing in your first week!

    • Image of material being used to create textures

      Using Materials to Generate Textures

      A number of activities to explore creating different textures

    • Black and White Texture Experiments

      End of week 1

      Time to celebrate your first week of learning and recap one what was covered. We'll also look at what happens in week 2.

  • Week 2

    Exploring Initial Collage Processes

    • Image of a black and white collage grid comprised of different textures

      Welcome to Week 2

      A quick look at the week ahead and what you'll you doing.

    • Image of an abstract black and white collage

      Exploring Texture, Shapes and Play

      A number of creative tasks to begin exploring the fundamentals of collage

    • End of Week 2

      A quick look back at what you've learned this week and a brief look ahead to week 3.

  • Week 3

    Introducing Colour

    • Colourful textures for Collage

      Welcome to week 3

      A quick look at the week ahead and what you'll you doing.

    • An image of cut out collage elements in a studio environment

      Developing an Initial Collage

      These tasks will introduce colour and support the development of your first collage creation.

    • End of week 3

      A quick look back at what you've learned this week and a brief look ahead to week 4.

  • Week 4

    Creating Your Final Collage

    • Image of a collage being created

      Welcome to Week 4

      A quick look at what's to come in your final week.

    • Your Final Collage

      This activity will guide you through the creation of your final outcome

    • End of the Course

      Let's review and reflect on the work you've made

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Create a diverse range of textures using various materials and techniques
  • Explore and understand tonal values through the medium of collage
  • Experiment with approaches to collage
  • Apply appropriate techniques to produce a collage
  • Reflect on the effective use of collage techniques

Who is the course for?

This course is perfect for artists, illustrators, and design enthusiasts looking to explore fresh creative techniques.

Whether you’re a beginner eager to flex your art skills or an experienced creator seeking new approaches to visual storytelling, this exploratory online art course offers inspiration and guidance to unlock your creative potential.

What software or tools do you need?

As this is a hands-on collage course, you’ll need a few materials to get going. We recommend you have a selection of black and coloured mark-making tools such as pens, pencils, paints or inks. You’l also need a sketchbook, some lose pieces of paper and some card. The more materials you gather, the more you will be able to explore texture creation.

Who will you learn with?

Pat Bradbury

Pat Bradbury is a Senior Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Illustration course at Leeds Arts University . His practice focuses around creative play, silly ideas and material exploration.

Who developed the course?

Leeds Arts University Logo

Leeds Arts University

Leeds Arts University is the only specialist arts university in the North of England.

  • Established

    1846
  • Location

    Leeds

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Buy this course

$79/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Subscribe & save

$349.99 for one year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 10 Apr 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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