Create a cat collage

While I like cats and was very excited about this month’s theme, I actually don’t own one and never will. Both my husband and I are allergic to cats so our eyes and noses quickly alert us when one is in a closed room. However, I enjoy reading about them and drawing them. This week we will create a cute cat collage.

The first cat Mike and I found on our trip to Italy was sitting outside (thankfully!) on our balcony in the town of Assisi. It was a beautiful gray and white striped tabby cat with green eyes. Tabby is a kind of cat with distinctive stripes on its forehead, body, and tail. 

Another cat can be found in a tapestry in the Vatican. I don't remember seeing this tapestry, but I probably walked past it! It was woven between 1524 and 1531. The artist chose to put a cat and dog at the feet of the table in the story of Jesus at Emmaus.

This month it's been all about cat art--how to draw a cat, how to use that drawing to create a dot cat art piece, and today we’ll do one of my favorite types of art--collage. I love the illustration at the end of the book They all Saw a Cat, by Brendan Wenzel, where he illustrates his cat using bits of the other illustrations in the book. If you look carefully, you will see he uses the technique of collage in many of his illustrations. Collage is fun because you get to cut up paper and glue it together again in a different form. 

From They All Saw a Cat, by Brendan Wenzel:

Hopefully your kids have mastered a simple line and shape drawing of a cat. (See how to draw a cat post) This week, they can be very expressive using colors and shapes to create a fun, unique and whimsical cat collage-based on a simple cat drawing. Of course, they can feel free to change their cat's position by rearranging the legs, tail, and body. Don't let the above photo fool you-this book and its illustrations will be enjoyed by all ages. Older kids can make their own wonderfully intricate collages. 

All they'll need is a piece of construction paper, something to draw with, some magazines/colored paper, scissors, and glue. Optional: wiggly eyes.

Step 1-Choose a magazine page that contrasts with your background paper. Draw and cut out the head and ears of your cat.

Step 2-Repeat with the body, tail, and legs.

Step 3- Glue all the parts of your cat onto the colored background paper. Cut or draw nose, mouth and whiskers. If desired, use wiggly eyes for the eyes, or...

Step 4: Complete eyes, nose, mouth, and additional stripes using cut and layered paper. (Cat on left doesn't have extra paper stripes added, cat on right does have stripes added)

I hope you've enjoyed all your cat creations this month! If you want to receive even more picture book and art ideas, sign up here to receive regular infusions of creativity and picture book ideas!

This article contains Amazon links, which are at no extra cost to you if you click on them, but help support Storygalorey. Thank you!