It’s A Collage!

The answer to my most frequently asked question.

Collages in progress

Folks often ask if a piece is a watercolor or painting, and are surprised when I say collage. My torn paper compositions don’t match their expectations of stereotypical cut-and-paste collages. But collage as an art form goes way beyond the stereotypical.

I love it when my intricately layered paper elicits associations with flowing watercolor and brushy oil paint. Achieving that painterly quality solely by tearing and arranging fragments brings deep satisfaction. The variables of torn edges capture organic, natural essence better than uniform scissors cuts ever could.

Detail of Allison’s collage Small Purple Mist

Beyond achieving a certain aesthetic, the process of hand-working with papers captivates me on a sensory level too. I relish their rich textures and qualities – smooth Japanese kozo, paint-stained sheets retaining an artist's gestures, tissue-thin rag paper nearly dissolving into light. As I compose through layering, moments emerge from light playing through translucent skins, dense sections turning somber, weightless elements floating above heavier passages. This tangible process engages both sides of my brain. 

As both a parent and a working artist, collage’s flexibility resonates as well. I can easily reposition pieces, working on multiple compositions as snippets of time allow. Unlike painting which requires weeks of rendering, collage keeps me freely experimenting without getting too fussy. It’s about letting go of control and letting the unexpected mix of pieces guide new discoveries. Their chance interactions end up resonating most powerfully.

Collages in progress on my studio desk.

So now you know my intricately layered works are collage pieces rather than paintings or watercolors. I invite you to read more posts exploring collage as an art form and my creative process.

View the one-of-a-kind abstract landscape collages available in my online shop & bring an original artwork into your space!