When I first started exploring collage, I would spend hours making what I thought were beautiful and exciting papers, only to find that they clashed when I tried to use them in a composition. The colours and patterns just didn’t come together in a way that felt right. Over time, I found a simple and effective way to fix this: using a limited palette.
This technique has been a game-changer. By sticking to just a few colours, my papers are now cohesive and complement each other in a way that makes me happy.
You can watch the full video over on my YouTube channel here - or keep reading if you prefer it that way.
My Approach to Making Collage Papers
1. Choosing the Right Paper
I like to work with thin paper, such as standard printer paper, lined paper, or graph paper. These types of paper add an extra layer of interest with their subtle backgrounds. I also use pre-painted papers with a bit of colour on them to build depth and history. The key is to use what you have!
2. Setting Up a Stay-Wet Palette
Since I don’t have a dedicated art studio, I use a stay-wet palette to keep my acrylic paints fresh for up to a week. This way, I don’t have to set up my paints from scratch every time I want to create. Here’s how I do it:
Use a storage box with a clip-top lid (this is essential for keeping moisture in).
Place an old tea towel (or kitchen roll) inside the box and soak it with water.
Lay down a sheet of baking paper (not waxed paper, as it doesn’t absorb water well).
Add acrylic paints directly onto the baking paper. I typically use one of each primary colour—along with black and white.
3. Mixing Colours for Cohesion
I start by mixing my colours to create a range of hues and values. Since all my papers contain elements of the same limited palette, they naturally harmonise with each other.
I don’t overthink colour theory—I simply mix shades that I enjoy and avoid those I don’t like. For example, I rarely create purple papers because I don’t often use purple in my collages. By focusing on colours I love, I make papers that I’ll be excited to work with later.
4. Checking Tonal Values
Once my papers are dry, I assess whether I have a good mix of dark, mid-tone, and light colours. I often find that I lean toward mid-tones, so I have to remind myself to create lighter shades as well. This balance helps add contrast and depth to the final collage.
5. Creating Interesting Whites
Instead of using plain white paper, I mix custom whites by adding a big blob of white paint to my existing palette. This allows me to create subtle variations of white that have hints of blue, yellow, or other colours from my palette.
Next Steps: Adding Marks and Textures
These foundation papers serve as the base for my collage projects. Next, I’ll split them into two groups:
Plain Papers – These remain as they are.
Marked Papers – I’ll add some mark-making using pens, pencils and maybe gelli printing.
I'll be sharing more about this process in an upcoming video. If you're interested, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel or join my newsletter, Creative Fix, for updates and creative inspiration.
What About You?
I’d love to hear about your own approach to making collage papers! What types of paper do you like to use? What are your favorite colour palettes? Let’s chat in the comments below.
Thanks for reading, and happy arting!