Experimenting with Patterns and Collage in Landscape Painting

When it comes to pushing your creativity, there’s no better way than stepping outside your comfort zone. In this tutorial, I take a reject cityscape and completely transform it using collage, acrylic paint, and bold patterns — a process that’s as much about discovery as it is about creating finished art.

Starting with a Base

I began with an old urban scene that wasn’t working for me. Instead of tossing it, I grabbed store-bought collage paper (the kind you find in the scrapbook section of Michaels or Hobby Lobby) and created a border along the top and down the left-hand side.

• The top border was orange with a rich texture.
• The left-hand border was blue, slightly wider for extra weight.

This instantly gave the composition fresh energy and a new frame to work within.

Enhancing the Scene with Acrylics

With the collage borders in place, I went back into the painting with acrylic paint to refine highlights and enhance key areas of the cityscape. The goal wasn’t to repaint the whole thing, but rather to bring out the best parts and give them a cleaner finish.

Adding Bold Patterns

Here’s where it got experimental. I painted large shapes coming in from the edges and top of the canvas, then used a liner brush to add white dotted lines and linear details along those shapes. This subtle patterning gave the scene an entirely new dynamic without overpowering the subject.

Why Experimentation Matters

This demo isn’t about making a masterpiece — it’s about growth. When you stick only to what you know, your art can start to feel stagnant. Taking time to try new techniques, compositions, or materials can lead to breakthroughs and inspire future work.

Even if the result isn’t perfect, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas and new possibilities for your next piece.

Want to go deeper with collage & mixed media?

👉 Explore the Mixed Media Hub
👉 Browse Collage Painting Ideas
👉 Dive into the Garage Collage Barrage

Supplies I Use All the Time

These are my go-to materials for almost every mixed media project I create. Do I add new ingredients occasionally? You betcha! But these are the go-to materials I rely on most. I know how they behave, how they layer, and how to get the best results from them.

• Acrylic Paints – I only buy heavy body for their thick texture and thin them with water for fluid glazing and washes. See my favorite set →
• Watercolors Paints – Great for transparent layers and unexpected color effects. Exact colors are below.  Shop my watercolor picks →
• Acrylic Inks - Excellent way to add transparent layers to mixed media artwork. Mixes well with everything! See the inks →
• Synthetic Acrylic Brushes - You need a variety and I have listed my go-to's below. I use Princeton brands, very dependable! See the brushes →
• Watercolor Brushes - Get a decent grade but avoid all-natural as synthetic blends have come a long way. Shop my picks →
• Collage Papers – A mix of pattered, and printed paper you see me use is from Hobby Lobby, and it's usually found in the scrapbook section. Browse paper packs →
• Palette Knives – Good to have around for scooping paint and smearing techniques. See what I use →
• Blick Super Value Canvas Packs - Comes in many small and medium sizes up to 20x16". Love em'. Best bulk stretched canvas →
• Mixed Media Paper – Sturdy enough to handle wet and dry techniques. Strathmore is the way to go! Best paper for mixed media →
• Watercolor Paper - Top choice is 140 lb. cold press by Fabriano Artistico. Cost effective and crispy white. Best watercolor paper →
• Caran d'Ache Water-Soluble Crayons – Perfect for adding scribbles and linear interest to mixed media art. Check them out →
• Gator Board - Best firm boards you can find! Buy a large sheet and cut out down. These are used as backing for my paper when I paint. Check it out →
• Mod Podge - Reliable and affordable adhesive for paper, thick and thin. And get the Matte! View the glue →

My preferred hues; Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light (or Medium), Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White

My preferred acrylic brushes; #12 Large round, 2x Medium rounds, 2x Detail, or liner brushes, Large and medium fan brush, a few medium size bristles and old, small house painting brush for glue.