A collage is a visual representation made from an assembly of different forms, materials and sources creating a new whole. A collage may include newspaper clippings, ribbons, bits of coloured or hand-made papers, portions of other artwork, photographs, and such, glued (photoshopped) to a solid support or canvas.

The main difference between Mosaic and Collage is that the Mosaic is a image made from an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials and Collage is a technique of art production using assemblage of different forms. It is often used in decorative art or as interior decoration.

The definition of a mosaic is artwork made by placing colored pieces such as stone, glass or tile into a design and then setting the design in mortar. An example of a mosaic is the dragon at the entrance of Antoni Gaudi’s Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain. An individual exhibiting mosaicism.

To make a collage, glue magazines, newspaper, colored paper, and photograph cutouts to a canvass, cloth, wood or paper backing. Paint, ribbons, and other 3D embellishments can also be added to the artwork to add depth and dimension to the piece.

A Few Basic Procedures You Should Follow

1. Choose a base for your collage. The base can be as simple as a piece of paper.
2. Collect the items to glue onto your base. Use your imagination, and anything you have on hand, to make your collage.
3. Decide what glue to use.
4. Create your collage.

If one wants to explore collage or mixed media in general, the use of PVA glue is of great importance. PVA glue will adhere paper, wood and fabric to canvas and the bond is absolutely tenacious. The other medium of importance is acrylic gloss or matt medium.

The best way to protect your collage is simply to frame it properly behind a sheet of glass or Plexiglas. This process, called glazing, acts as an excellent barrier to airborne dust and pollutants, as well as the hands of a curious audience.

Mod Podge is an acid-free brand of glue produced by Plaid. Mod Podge is useful for collage and decoupage as it can be used both to glue something down and as a protective layer over it (instead of a varnish).

Although there are many methods to create a collage, one of the simplest and most classic is decoupage. Decoupage glue such as Mod Podge can be used to adhere your photos to the collage base and seal them once the collage is finished. Doing so protects the photos from tearing or peeling off over time.

Instructions

1. Decide on your color theme and cut out a ton of scrap pieces from your magazines.
2. Outline your image on your canvas.
3. Paint the background with acrylic paint.
4. Begin Mod Podging your scrap pieces to the canvas.
5. Keep applying magazine pieces to create your design.
6. As each section dries, Mod Podge over the top.