A Series of Striped Mixed Media Collages

There are many different ways to work in a series.  Sometimes it's a single idea. Sometimes it's a technique repeated.  Sometimes it's the same supplies or colors used over and over in different ways.  Sometimes it's a combination of things.

YOU get to create the "rules" around the series you're creating.

Last week, I decided to create a series of square collages using the same six papers.  My only rules were (1) square, (2) collage, and (3) the same 6 papers.  Here are the six gelatin printed papers I started with:

Knowing that I like a lot of contrast, I tried to choose papers in a range of colors and values with different sizes of patterns.  I also knew that I'd need some kind of "resting" spots, so I tried to pick a few papers that were a bit "softer" feeling.

In collage, choosing your palette of papers is an important step that is often overlooked.  Most people work from scraps or a big bin of papers.  Just as you might work with a limited palette while painting, you might want to consider working with a limited palette of collage papers.  And that's just what I did!

I showed you the first collage I made last week...

...and then I simply kept going until all the paper was gone.

Some are more successful than others.  They're all slightly different sizes and wavy around the edges since I pieced them together without a substrate.  As a group -- and keep in mind that this is a digital collage, so they all appear to be the same size -- I think they work well together.

Because they're made with the same papers, they coordinate.  I'm also using many of the same ideas about how lines combine. 

Right after I made them, I shared these pieces on instagram and someone commented that they would make "great backgrounds for cards."  I confess to being slightly insulted.  I don't think anyone likes hearing that their artwork would make "a great background."  I'm also well aware that we each have our own taste when it comes to art and what we'd hang on our own walls -- or give as a card.  Nonetheless, it did make me pause and wonder.  Are they finished?

I'm going to live with them for a little while and see how I feel after some time has passed.

Thanks for stopping by!