This rooster collage is the first one I have done on canvas and it has been on my mind for a long time. One of the reasons for working with the canvas is to have a piece of artwork that does not require picture framing;  it can be hung immediately and enjoyed.  The square format is one of my favorites — besides, doing colorful birds and animals are fun.

I began in the usual way of choosing which colors to use in my file. I wanted something with a lot of variegated textures for the rooster’s feathers.  Before cutting the bird’s shapes, I decided to paint the background in a flat, muted turquoise to eliminate having too many different textures in the design. I feel this complements the other colors, and I like the color vibration using the complementary colors. The background color and collage papers extend to the sides of the canvas and a UV varnish protects it.