Eric Carle Collage

Our fourth project in K-8 Art Methods was to create a story collage in the style of Eric Carle's picture books. First, we watched a short video explaining each step Eric Carle takes when creating a picture collage. Then we set to work creating our own colored paper to use. We used thick sheets of white 12x18 paper. Each person had a cup of water and a brush which we used to wet the paper before applying paint. When the entire paper was wet, I spooned globs of a half paint half wallpaper paste mixture onto the paper. I used a brush to mix different colors of paint directly on the paper. I created different textures using sponges, stamps, and the back of the brush. Some colors were not mixed completely so individual colors would show through. Completed papers were placed on a drying rack. I created a range of colors.

On a separate sheet of white 12x18 paper, I drew a pencil sketch of a two-page spread for a picture book. I made sure I had characters, a setting, and an action one of the characters was doing. I planned out where I would put the objects and text in the picture.

During the next class period, I cut out the objects and characters from the colored paper I had made. I did this by laying my pencil sketch on top of the colored paper and using an X-Acto knife to cut along my pencil lines. It is important to put a cutting board or mat underneath the paper when using an X-Acto knife.  I referred to my sketch when arranging the objects on the page.

After all the pieces were cut out, I glued them on a sheet of blue 12x18 paper. I used a black Sharpie marker to write the text on the page, and I used oil pastels to add detail.

An extension activity for this lesson would be to have students read Eric Carle's Very series and then write their own story for the series. Students could read their stories to the class and illustrate the whole book or just a page or two with this collage method.