There are many reasons why canvas prints have become a popular home decor choice over recent years. For a start, they’re lightweight, affordable and work with any interior style. And, because you don’t need an actual frame with a glass front, you avoid any annoying reflections. Little wonder fine artists have been painting on them since the Renaissance, when they replaced wooden panels as the medium of choice.

A canvas print looks great on the wall of any home, but you don’t always have a single image that looks right when enlarged to that size. Instead, consider a canvas collage that uses multiple photographs (either digitally created or with print-outs) or design a simple artwork using coloured paper shapes.

Make a Digital Collage

Pick a single colour when creating your digital collage to print to canvas.

Creating an artistic canvas print using digital photos is easier than you might think, especially with the help of photo layout tools, such as Adobe Express or Canva. For those looking to take it a step further, Adobe Photoshop offers even more flexibility and control over your design; you can fine-tune every detail, from precise image placements to advanced layering techniques, ensuring your canvas collage is truly one-of-a-kind.

To start your canvas collage, select the images you’d like to use. Choose from a colour range, like our example, or from a specific holiday or occasion. A set of photographs of a friend or relative arranged in chronological order can also make a wonderful birthday present. 

A series of images demonstrating how to create a canvas collage in Photoshop.

Next, create a document in your chosen layout tool that mirrors the size of your canvas, then place your images into a grid. Be prepared to spend time re-arranging the order. Some images will be perfect for corners or a central position, but others may need to be tried in different places until you find the collage formation that looks right to you. 

Hot Tip: In a composition like this, it’s best to avoid photographs with too much white, as it can appear like a hole in the design.

Once you’re happy with the layout, save your collage as a JPEG or PDF. Next, use the Print + Create online service from Officeworks to select your preferred canvas size. Upload your collage file, then position it across the canvas until you’re satisfied with the overall look. All that’s left to do is proceed to checkout to have your canvas printed and ready for collection or delivery.  

What to Try

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Create a Photo Collage

If you don’t mind getting your fingers (a little bit) sticky, you can construct your photo collage by hand using actual photos. If you only have digital photos, that’s fine, too. Just visit the Print + Create department of your local Officeworks store and print them out. For this example, we choose a matt finish, but gloss is also available.

Choose a stretched canvas size then trim and place images for your photo collage.‍

Select the canvas size you want, from a 4-inch x 4-inch mini masterpiece to an epic 40-inch x 40-inch creation. For this design we chose a 10-inch x 12-inch canvas. Then it’s time to experiment with the layout of your pictures, moving them around until you’re happy with the composition. 

You may want to trim the photographs further, adding emphasis to certain elements and creating more organic shapes. 

Use patterned paper in the background of the collage to fill in gaps between the images.‍

Now it’s time to stick the images down. We used varnish, but PVA glue is also an option, although you may need to mix this with a little water. The great thing about choosing clear varnish is that you can use it straight from the bottle and brush it onto the backs of your pictures.

When you have the composition how you want it, brush a layer of varnish over the whole canvas. This will hold everything together and also provide a consistent finish over the artwork. 

Hot Tip: Remember there’s no need to cover the entire canvas in images – too many can make your collage look cluttered. Try placing patterned paper behind the images to fill any gaps and provide some breathing space between pictures.

Add the final, unique touches to your aesthetic collage with stencils and cute stickers.‍

will take about an hour), it’s time to accessorise. Maybe there are some places on your canvas that seem a little empty, or perhaps you want to emphasise the theme of your collage with a word or two? Here’s your chance to go nuts with cute stickers, stencils and washi tape to really personalise your artwork.

What to Try

An assortment of products for creating a canvas collage, shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Products include things like varnish, washi tape and scissors.

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SEE ALSO: Celebrating the Creative Process With Mulga the Artist

Produce an Abstract Art Collage

Master of the cut-out, French artist Henri Matisse, referred to his paper collage technique as “drawing with scissors”. While most of us won’t be able to create masterpieces quite so effortlessly, this style of artwork is surprisingly simple and can yield beautiful, striking results.

Your artistic skills don’t need to be well developed to create an abstract art collage.‍

First consider different kinds of paper and their respective qualities. Coloured tissue paper adds a translucent effect to each shape, while patterned paper can add a texture to the visual. We also used watercolour paper and paint for more graduated blocks of colour, but be careful as this paper is significantly thicker than the other stock used. 

Combine watercolour paint and decorative paper shapes for your aesthetic collage.‍

As with the photo collage, always position all of the elements ‘dry’ first, so you get a good idea of exactly where everything will go once you get your brush out. When you’re happy, use exactly the same technique as before – varnish on the back of each element then a final layer over the entire composition to hold everything in place and add a beautiful varnished finish to your canvas. Be sure to put it somewhere safe until it dries, which takes about an hour.

Hot Tip: Don’t worry if any of the thicker paper doesn’t stick down completely on your first go – the final layer of varnish will help hold everything in place.

‍What to Try

An assortment of products for creating a canvas collage, shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Products include things like craft paper, watercolour paint and paintbrushes.

SEE ALSO: How to Plan the Perfect Craft Party

This article was originally published in June 2022 and has been updated.