The Perfect Summer Art Project: Mixed Media Photo Collages

Last week, the kids did a photo art project that they not only loved, but the finished product turned out so cute.

I shared a few of the steps on Instagram Stories, but so many of you messaged that you wanted me to share it again, I thought I’d put it in a more permanent place here.

I love this project because it’s great for any age–toddlers to adults. That’s the fun thing about art.

To start, you’ll need:

–watercolor paints and paintbrushes
–random collection of art goodies for collage such as sequins, glitter, rhinestones, beads, torn up pieces of colored tissue paper, small silk flowers, etc.
– a black and white photo printed on card stock paper
– glue

You can use a photo you already have, but it will work best if subject is dominant in photo with clear or blurry background–or you can take a new photo. For Lainey’s collage, I found a picture I had taken a few weeks ago of her against the sky. For Nella and Dash, I took a new photo of them outside against a white paper backdrop I taped on my garage door.

Turn the photo black and white, but make sure to add a lot of brightness and contrast to get that crisp “pop”.

Print the photo on regular 8.5 x 11 card stock paper. Using watercolors, paint areas of the photo where you want to add color. Add a sunset behind the subject, make rainbow hair, get crazy.

Set up a smorgasbord of collage supplies and glue other media to the photo. Let dry and display the finished college somewhere special.

It’s the perfect technology replacement project for summer break and also a great ones for friends to do together.

One more thing on this Monday: I’m offering one last photography course for the summer due to repeated demand for support with the entire process of getting photos from camera (or phone) to album. Do you feel overwhelmed with all your photos and don’t know how to organize them or turn them into something you can enjoy? Do you dream of having albums with beautiful cohesive layouts but don’t know where to start? Do you need some inspiration this summer for themes to capture and a process for organizing those photos and getting them off your device that will stick? Check out Framed! From Camera to Album.

We’ll have one live kick-off call next week (recorded so you can watch it if you can’t make it), I’ll support you with weekly guidance emails throughout the summer; and then when we all return from our summer adventures, you’ll receive lessons on what to do with those photos and how to put them together in a summer album that isn’t just willy-nilly. Hope you can join us (the community is so much fun!).