Experimental Collage

On Saturday, I took a class at the Guilford Art Center called “Experimental Collage Workshop”.

I was more than a little nervous as I was driving to the center. I’ve never taken an art class before and it takes me a while to get my “creative juices” going!

It involved using a variety of medium to create a collage. The teacher brought so much material and it was fun to sort through everything there.

As I went through the packets of magazine pages, cutouts, words, and paper stock, I pulled out items that interested me. I realized I knew what I wanted to do.

As I was making it, I had to let go of my need to make things symmetrical or cut strips straight and of equal dimensions! The sun came about on my third try of a sun. As soon as I saw the green leaf paper, I knew I wanted it to be the roof and the teacher was impressed it was 3-D! I had to have Wally there and the cardinal was a fluke as I didn’t see it in the packet the first time I looked through it. I think it came out pretty good!

I’ve always had a thing for standard collage. My earliest memory was in third grade we had a collage project, maybe for our first communion, of a chalice and the communion wafer. I only remember it because it was in a yarn bound “book” of art work that hung around in the basement for years.

I love seeing the tile work in the subway stations. The two tours at Hearst Castle both ended up at the pool and it is breathtaking! The colors and the way they reflect off the water – I have so many pictures!

I really enjoyed this class. Once I had an idea of what I wanted to do, it became soothing to sort my material and cut out the items. I think it’s something I might explore at home!