Cut and Composed: Collaged Portrait with Classical Roots

This course is inspired by the striking work of contemporary artist Patrick Bremer, known for his vibrant and intricate collaged portraits. Bremer's technique merges classical portraiture with modern materials, constructing highly detailed images from scraps of magazines and paper ephemera. In this course, we’ll take inspiration from his process as we reimagine Old Masters portraits - using scissors instead of pencils, and color scraps instead of paint.

While the medium is unconventional, the conversations we’ll have are familiar to any student of painting or drawing: we’ll explore the importance of tonal values, composition, and negative shapes. You'll learn how to translate the subtlety of a Rembrandt or a Vermeer into layered paper, using shape and color relationships to sculpt the illusion of form.

You'll work with magazine clippings and other lightfast paper scraps to build realistic, expressive portraits. As you sift through contemporary printed media, your materials will become part of the message, weaving glimpses of your world into the image. Each collage will be deeply personal, reflecting not just the chosen portrait but also your hand, your eye, and even the text and imagery pulled from the pages you select. No two pieces will look the same, even if based on the same portrait.

You’ll Learn:

• How to construct a realistic portrait using collage materials
• Methods for simplifying and abstracting shapes without losing likeness
• Strategies for achieving depth, contrast, and realism through layering
• How to create a cohesive composition using found imagery
• Ways to personalize your work using contemporary print media and storytelling
• Historical and contemporary context for collage as a fine art practice

This course introduces a playful yet deeply thoughtful way of working, inviting you to see collage as a legitimate fine art medium, capable of nuance, realism, and storytelling. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just beginning your creative journey, you’ll come away with a new understanding of how to build and layer a collaged portrait. And perhaps most importantly you’ll learn that you can draw with scissors.

Drawing experience will be helpful, but the instructor will help you throughout the process, no matter your art experience.