Expressive Watercolor Landscape Collage

Capture the essence of summer along Maine’s rocky coastline with a playful watercolor collage inspired by the work of Janis Doukakis. Using Faber-Castell watercolors, you can create a lively, colorful landscape that brings the natural beauty of the coast to life.

Field of Flowers: Creative Inspiration

For this series of summer landscape collages, my inspiration comes from the views just outside our cottage in Ocean Point, Maine. I start with a vibrant flower garden overlooking Ram Island as my central theme.

Suggested Art Supplies

Watercolor paper

Watercolor paints

Connector Paint (a mix between watercolor and gouache)

Soft pastels

Gelatos

Medium and large flat brushes

Scissors and/or X-Acto knife

Glue or glue stick

Water for cleaning brushes

Paper towels

A simple sketch of your landscape

Sketching Your Scene

I begin by studying a photograph of the location and deciding how to simplify it into bold, basic shapes suitable for a collage. I focus on just a few essential elements—the island, water, rocks, and flowers—and make a loose sketch to guide the process. The finer details will evolve as I work.

Creating Painted Papers

Before assembling the collage, I spend a day creating around 40 sheets of painted paper for multiple projects. I aim for earthy, textured papers that evoke elements of nature: sky, water, rocks, grass, flowers, and more.

I experiment with watercolor, Connector Paint, pastels, and Gelatos on 9x12 watercolor paper. I mix colors directly on the paper, vary brush strokes, and add texture with techniques like splattering and dry brushing.

Assembling the Collage

I start building the collage in the center of a larger sheet of watercolor paper, leaving a generous white border around the edges.

Rather than drawing the shapes first, I cut pieces directly from the painted papers. This approach creates a spontaneous and unexpected effect, adding energy and creativity to the composition.

Tips for cutting:

Small scissors are handy for intricate shapes and detailed areas.

Place larger foundational elements first—sky, water, grass, and dirt.

Allow edges to remain irregular and layered for a playful, artistic look.

Next, I cut and arrange the island, rocks, and flowers, adjusting the positioning until it feels balanced. To create the appearance of waves with white caps, I carefully tear small strips of painted paper toward me.

Additional tip:

An X-Acto knife makes lifting and repositioning small pieces easier.

After everything is glued down, I add subtle highlights, such as brushing the side of a white pastel across the sky for clouds. Finally, I use a pencil to title the piece with its location: “Ocean Point, Maine.”

Final Thoughts

Drawing inspiration from your own photos or vacation memories gives your collage extra meaning. This approach not only makes the artwork personal but also provides a fun way to share your experiences visually.

A finished collage looks striking with a few inches of white border and framed in white, giving it a clean, graphic aesthetic perfect for home decor or as a unique gift. Consider using this technique for notecards as well—they make a charming and creative way to share your art.