Make a Surrealist Collage
Create a surrealist collage by cutting images from magazines and combining unexpected elements with glue and paper to explore imagination and visual storytelling.
Step-by-step guide to make a surrealist collage
Surrealism Magazine Collage Art Tutorial - Art With Trista
Step 1
Clear a workspace and cover it with scrap paper or newspaper to protect the table.
Step 2
Gather all the materials listed and put them within arm’s reach.
Step 3
Flip through the magazines and choose 8 to 12 images or textures that look interesting or strange.
Step 4
Carefully cut out each chosen image using scissors while an adult watches.
Step 5
Pick one piece of plain paper or cardboard to be your collage background.
Step 6
Place the largest cut-outs on the background to make a basic layout without using glue.
Step 7
Add smaller cut-outs and move them around to create surprising combinations and unexpected stories.
Step 8
Glue each piece down starting with the background ones and press them flat so they stick.
Step 9
Use colouring materials to draw details or color in gaps to help the pieces blend together.
Step 10
Let your collage dry completely so the glue is no longer tacky.
Step 11
Write your name and the title of your collage in a small corner with a pencil or marker.
Step 12
Share your finished surrealist collage on DIY.org.
Help!?
What can we use instead of magazines, scissors, or liquid glue if we don't have them?
If you don't have magazines, use printed images or old greeting cards and wrapping paper, and replace liquid glue and scissors with a glue stick or double-sided tape and safety scissors or pre-cut images.
What should we do if pieces curl up or won't stick when we glue them down?
If pieces curl or won't stick, apply a thin layer of glue under the edges, press each glued piece flat with a clean scrap of paper and a heavy book as you glue the background pieces, and then let the collage dry completely as instructed.
How can we change the activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children have an adult pre-cut the magazine images and provide a glue stick and safety scissors, while older kids can use an X‑Acto knife with supervision, paint or textured backgrounds, and invent a more complex title in the final step.
How can we extend or personalize our surrealist collage after finishing the basic steps?
To enhance your collage, add fabric scraps, stickers, or small glued-on 3D items for texture, draw extra details with colouring materials, varnish or laminate after it dries, and then share the finished piece on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to make a surrealist collage
How to create a SURREAL COLLAGE using SIMPLE TIPS AND TRICKS - Collage Art Tutorial
4 Videos
How to create a SURREAL COLLAGE using SIMPLE TIPS AND TRICKS - Collage Art Tutorial
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Facts about collage and mixed-media art
🎨 Surrealism started in the 1920s — André Breton wrote the first Surrealist Manifesto in 1924 to celebrate dreams and imagination.
✂️ The word "collage" comes from the French coller, which means "to glue" — Picasso and Braque helped popularize it in the early 1900s.
⏰ Salvador Dalí's melting clocks in The Persistence of Memory (1931) are one of the most famous surreal images ever created.
🖼️ Max Ernst used collage and experimental techniques (like frottage) to mix unexpected images and make dreamlike scenes.
📚 Magazines have long been favorite sources for collage because their photos and advertisements offer lots of surprising pieces to combine.
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