How to Add MORE Personality

Collage with personality

One of my favourite ways to create character and personality in a piece is to begin with something wonderfully simple: cut paper.

I used collage extensively as a student at art school, creating colourful, playful works that celebrated experimentation. This technique has stayed with me, and I’ve continued to explore and develop it across a wide range of approaches and themes.

Starting with bold, flat shapes immediately removes the pressure of “perfect drawing.” I limit myself to around four colours, which keeps the piece cohesive and stops me overworking it. Using scissors — and often tearing the paper — keeps the edges lively and organic. At this stage, I’m just looking for the essence of the objects: the curve, the tilt, the shadow. Nothing more.

How to add personality to your artwork

And the best part? The collage blocks don’t have to be perfect. They’re simply a foundation. Because we’re going to be drawing both over the blocks of colour and within the blocks of colour to create interest, detail and movement. The shapes are there to support the line, not compete with it.

Once everything is stuck down, I dip a little garden stick into ink and draw straight on top. No pencil guide. The stick scratches and wobbles, so the lines vary and skip — which is exactly where the personality comes in. You can’t over-refine. You can’t tighten everything up. The marks feel human and full of energy.

The collage gives you bold structure; the inky line brings spontaneity. Together they create that lovely balance between simplicity and expression.

Cut simply. Keep the colours limited. Then draw bravely — over and within — and let the wobble do the work.