Little Curiosities: Abstract Collage Up Close - Work in Progress
- May 7, 2023
- 4 min read
There's nothing like a little abstract collage exercise to explore interesting textures, contrasts and compositions!
Using leftover pieces from the gel prints I did for my Dusty Summer sketch I spent a happy couple of hours putting together there small A5 sized collages, to add to my 'Wall of Curiosities.'
Working with collage always feels a little simplistic as it's one of the earliest art making methods we're introduced to as kids in school. It's a quick and simple way to create new and original imagery, requiring only basic materials and skills.
But as with any art process the more you do it, the more refined your vision becomes and the more you can achieve and learn by working this way.
As I look back over my art making journey, I realise that I began seriously exploring abstract collage over 30 years ago at art college and I still have my sketchbooks that are filled with experimental pieces. I found it such a useful and immediate way to make exploratory images before committing to larger artworks.
Initially I just used whatever materials I had to hand and eventually I progressed onto making my own papers from different kinds of raw materials. I have a vivid memory of stacking sheets of soggy wet paper on top of the old iron radiator in the college studio to try and dry it out, so I could get on and use it!
We can learn much from what has gone before, which we can take forward into our current abstract art making processes.
Deconstructing or fragmenting our source material and rearranging it into a new composition instantly moves our work into abstraction;
there is endless scope for creating visual 'differences' in the way we can use collage;
we can explore 'Elements of Art' either singularly or in combination; for example value, colour, shape, space and texture;
we can explore 'Principles of Design' in different ways; for example balance, contrast, rhythm, movement and pattern;
we can use any type of 2D material to create imagery, printed or painted papers, items destined for the recycle bin, fabrics, old tickets and ephemera that have personal significance;
spontaneity is an inherent characteristic of working with collage pieces as the process of assembling and re-assembling can be undertaken quickly and intuitively;
we can use collage to explore and experiment with our ideas and notions as part of a broader project, or to create finished artworks;
collage can give us a new perspective on our thoughts and ideas;
we can make it complex or we can keep it simple;
we can use our collage work as the basis for mixed media art.
And best of all we can bring our unique creative vision and purpose to the way in which we create collage work.
My 'Little Curiosities' are really just a side step and a supporting process for something new and different. I approached these collages with an exploratory attitude and whilst they'll never hang in the Louvre, they have helped me to create a focus around what is really interesting me at this moment in time.
As an abstract artist I'm always looking for new perspectives, and the most authentic way to express my ideas, much like the Cubists! Weaving ideas that have surfaced during my collage experiments into more finished work will take some time, but my work will be richer for it, of that I'm sure.
So if you haven't embraced abstract collage as part of your working process yet, I urge you to give it a go! And don't forget to grab your copy of my 'Top 10 Tips - Collage Basics' to help you get started.
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