Activity Guide by Kate Kwasneski
Intern, Grinnell College Museum of Art
Xochi Solis is an artist who works in both Texas and Mexico. As well as creating visual art, she is also a DJ. Her work is all about layers: she creates collage paintings and monoprints that take several different shapes and colors and place them on top of each other. The resulting artwork is abstract and full of texture. Solis uses the layers in her artwork to think about the complexity of the natural and cultural environments in which she lives. Today we are going to look at her artwork and think about how we can use layers in our own collages!
Look closely at these images. Count how many layers you can see in each one! Think about how the artwork would look different if the layers were in a different order. How do the different colors and textures interact?
Make an image that involves lots of layers! Try using watercolor, markers, old magazines or newspaper, leftover wrapping paper, or construction paper. Think about the different colors and textures of your materials, and how you can combine them together.
A good place to start is by collecting a pile of things you might want to use. Once you have all your materials gathered together, start thinking about how they might combine and overlap in interesting ways to create your collage. Play! Try out several arrangements to see how the same materials can give a different feel. You could try alternating layers of paper and paint! While you are working on your collage, be sure to give it enough time to dry between each layer. This is especially important if you are using paint.
Write: Xochi Solis comes up with imaginative names for her artworks, like Love can run faster than you can and A room dim at noon. Look at the names of her artworks included here, and try to come up with an imaginative name for your own collage.
Web support:
Daniel Strong
Associate Director and Curator of Exhibitions
Grinnell College Museum of Art