Pictured above is a collage I made it during one of my monthly "Ladies Art Social" get-togethers. For a couple of hours a group of about seven creative women sat and thumbed through magazines to find words and pictures that inspired each of us. As you can see, what was on my mind was writing, and more specifically, success at writing. I am making writing a priority this year (this blog is one example of that) and I wanted something inspirational to hang on my office wall to be a visual reminder of what my life's passion is right now.
The process of making collages isn't that foreign to me. I used to love to make collages when I was young. Back then my intention was less about getting in touch with my feelings or making art. Back then during those peer-pressured homogenizing teen years, it was about covering three-ring binders and school lockers, using words and pictures to say "this is me." It allowed me to make a statement at an age when doing so was risky.
Today those risks are gone, and the fear of not being good enough only happens when I foolishly compare myself to others. Having an art outlet like collaging reminds me that I haven't lost my creative compass. I can still start out with a blank canvas and end up with something uniquely beautiful, not only as I envisioned, but also intended.
Yes! I can attest to the power of collages! My family relocated from Wisconsin to Montana the summer before seventh grade and the following school year was really rough. Finally, the summer before eighth grade I decided to look at the move in a new way--as a chance to really establish my identity anew. I made a few collages to that effect and it was the perfect way to wrangle a bunch of confused and excited teenage thoughts into a productive whole. I hung them on my wall as a reminder and I managed to be a lot happier from then on.
ReplyDeleteI also really like the idea of a collage party! I keep a bottle of mod podge handy in my craft closet in case collage inspiration strikes.
I concur that collages are a spectacular form of self and artistic expression! For our first wedding anniversary I made a collage inspired by the one-year "paper" theme (the second year was cotton, hence the memory tree I made with cotton branches...not sure whats in store for the upcoming "leather" anniversary but the possibilities are endless! Haha). For the collage I cut some of my favorite nuggets of words out of the vows I wrote, along with wedding photosreception and some of the centerpiece decor from the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception, like our customized guitar picks. It sits on our dresser and serves as a daily reminder of that special day and an inspiration for the days to come:)
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