I’m working with collage and finding it really versatile and refreshing after a few months of intently painting. Seeing Matisse’s Cut Outs at Tate Modern motivated me to work with collage. The initial simplicity of his schemes reveals itself to be sophisticated and complex. Its that thing- people with years of skill and experience ( in absolutely an field of work and life) make what they do look easy! I thought about how Matisse created a spontaneity and freedom which concealed the great consideration he put into his work (apparent when looking at all the archive material of his studio practices in the Cut Outs exhibition).
With this in mind I’m using about 5 elements – multiples of the figure; black and white card; sugar paper; photocopied patterns taken from original wax rubbings; highlighter pens and pastel lines.
I move these elements about until I begin to find a composition forming. This process is very liberating- it feels like the play-state we are most relaxed and yet focused in. I then start to stick paper on paper , layering up; and respond to these moves with the addition of pastel marks. Everything seems to wonder about for a while and then comes together when my eye is happy with the balance of the composition.
Its almost something that works best if you don’t think about it too much. And its very enjoyable. I’m learning about how colours work together- how marks coupled with figures begin to take on a sense of sign and symbol that can suggest meaning.
I’m hoping to do some collaborative collage / drawing work later in the week with a fellow artist. Watch this space.
