Portrait

This is the grownup's version of Paint-by-Numbers.

The assignment was to make a portrait. So I found a picture that I thought might work.

 I cropped it and used the "posterize" tool in Photoshop, using 4 levels. I forgot to flip it (which you must if you want it to come out right), but I flipped this image so that you can compare. Print on copy paper.

 I used a piece of canvas paper, but a heavy piece of watercolor paper will work as well. Brush on a coat of ModPodge on the paper and on the front of the photo. Place the front of the photo onto the modpodged area of the receiving canvas paper while the ModPodge is wet. After it has dried, wet the back of the photo and peal off the backing until the photo has been revealed.

 Next, go through all of your magazines and find colors that correspond to the colors in your photo. You probably won't be able to match exactly, so just try to get in the color family.  I found it best to try to get several shades of each color.

Cut the magazine colors into small pieces and attach them to the photo with ModPodge. Don't worry too much about getting the exact profile. Your cut pieces will probably be rectangular or triangular but the shapes in your portrait will be more circular or organic. Don't worry, it will work out.

Brush ModPodge over the attached shapes to insure complete adherence.

Fill in large areas with small pieces in different shades.

The result is a colorful fun portrait. This process would work well for just about any artwork; figure, landscape or still life.