Beautiful collages that tell picture stories
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Collages are a gallery of images that function as frames of a story. Together they describe people, experiences and events, anything really. The sentimental, or other value, of the story being told through the collection of pictures is the power of collages. Consider these factors when designing collages with wall art…
Sizes
You can create collages with wall art that’s the same or mixed sizes. When their sizes the same, each picture has the same importance. With varied sizes, the larger ones gain importance while the smaller ones fill in the details of the story you’re telling.
Quantity
Usually, an even number of pictures tend to work well because they create an attractive symmetry when hung on the wall. But that’s not a rule. An odd number of pictures can be arranged in a masonry layout (an uneven gallery) that is also attractive by virtue of how the pictures balance each other. Probably the only limitations you really have to quantity of pictures is the available wall space.
Quantities in a collage can also grow over time. For example, adding family photos of cherished moments to cover an entire wall over time.
Layout
This is about how you arrange the pictures on the wall into a gallery. It could be in rows, columns, or both. Pictures can also be arranged in asymmetrical ways that balance each other and create a very satisfying presentation, as with masonry layouts. Google a few examples to see the possibilities.
Usually, a couple centimeters as margin between the pictures allows each to ‘have its own space’. This is useful to allow each picture to shine on their own, and as part of the collection. The spaces between the pictures can also help to cover large wall areas with fewer pictures.
The key to collages is choosing pictures that are related in some way. A time period, similar themes or colours are just some of the ways that you can link visuals together to tell a story, so let your creative juices flow!