Hello and welcome back to the 100 days of collage challenge! I am undertaking the 100 Days of collage course on Skillshare run by Froyle Davies. You can join the course here!

In this week’s class, we explored using text in our work to give our collages narrative.

Day 43: Crafting Dynamic Storytelling

In this class we created a collage that told a story or depicted a particular moment in time.

We explored how layering different elements and text in a collage can convey depth and complexity in a story.

We began by choosing a theme or story. I chose the story of a Woman from the 1920s based on an Edith Holden-type character. This idea sprouted from some vintage photographs I found. I also found in my stash a faux seed packet. My character ventures out to different gardens around the world collecting and cataloging flora and fauna in her journal.

I used a combination of images, text, and textures to build layers that reveal different
aspects of the narrative. I used book text, photographs, images and my own writing in gel plate papers to create my nostalgic collage.

You can see a video of me creating my text collage paper over on Instagram. To create this paper I used charcoal on my gel plate to create script. I really enjoyed creating a narrative in my collage. I also really loved incorporating text and the written word into my collages.

Day 44: Words and Wisdom
For this collage we were tasked to integrate meaningful quotes or phrases into our collage.

We were asked to consider what is our favorite quote or personal mantra? Or to choose quote or phrase that inspires us in our current lives.

I chose to use a phrase I heard on a podcast this week that really sang to me. The podcast was “The No Bulls*it guide to a happier life” episode 91: There’s more to life than lists. In this podcast the host said something like:

“At the end of our lives there are no prizes for getting everything done. There won’t be someone waiting there with a medal, congratulating us for ticking off all the things on our list. Our prize is in the little, everyday glimmers in life. Be careful that you don’t miss the most important parts of life being too focused on getting stuff done.”

I used some more of the script gel plate prints I had made in this collage. I also included an old to do list of mine, featuring my own handwriting. I used alphabet stamps to create my quote on some scraps of paper. I layered up all these textures to create my collage.

I really enjoyed including a quote in my collage today. I felt that it added a personal touch to my piece. This was heightened by the use of my own handwriting in the collage papers. I thought this was a profound use of my old to do list!

What quote would you choose to put centre stage in your collage? What words are resonating with you at the moment? Do you have a mantra that you live by? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear some of the words that are inspiring you at the moment.

Day 45: One Colour Conversation: Monochromatic Collage
In this collage we were tasked to use only one colour family. We explored how limiting our palate can impact on our artwork.

I chose brown for my collage. I went through my stash of papers and collected together all the brown pieces. I like how the brown adds a grungy, vintage aesthetic. As I have enjoyed adding narrative this week I decided to add a murder mystery story to my collage. I used some of the miniature collages I made a few weeks back as focal points. I then added the stamped words “murder she wrote” in brown ink on brown paper. The paper was from an old paper bag.

Was the man in the image poisoned? Or was he the poisoner?! That’s up to you to decide!

Day 46: Urban Story
In this weeks class we developed a collage featuring urban landscapes and architecture. This could have been real, imagined or even an abstract design.

I was inspired by the train and bridgework imagery in a vintage magazine I had in my stash.

This vintage booklet is full with images of science, technology and industrial design, alongside fabulous vintage 1950’s advertisements. I picked it up at a 2nd hand antiques centre.

I used a gel plate print that I made using cushion stuffing in a past lesson as the background. I liked the way the marks looked like clouds, or a dark electricity filled sky. I then used words and imagery from the booklet to create my Urban story. This one is about a train spotter from the 50’s who is fascinated by steam trains, bridges and viaducts.

Day 47: Soundscapes in Collage
In this class we created a musical-themed collage using sheet music or instrument images. We were tasked to blend different visual elements with the theme of music.

For my collage I found some music paper from a vintage book of war time songs called “Songs that won the war”

I started by colouring my vintage music papers using Brusho. I used these music pages as a background. I then printed some of my own vintage family photographs onto tissue paper.

I sprayed the printed tissue paper with varnish so that the prints wouldn’t run when in contact with the glue. I then layered up these images onto the music paper background to create a narrative. I added some other elements I had in my stash to complete the image. I included the phrase “No guts no story” to add further narrative to the collage. Although this collage isn’t strictly about music, I used musical elements to create my collage.

I enjoyed using original family photographs in this collage. I also liked how the music paper adds an element of narrative to the page.

Day 48: Your Story
For this collage we were tasked to tell our story. We asked the questions “Who are you? Where do you come from? What do you want the world to know about you?”

I decided to create a collage about a more simple part of my identity. I used the collage to describe my love of life drawing. I wanted to cross over my art self with my craft self by combining the two worlds.

To do this I used some gel plate prints as a background that I had already created. I then made a charcoal copy of one of my life drawings. I used this “copy” to print onto the gel plate and pulled the print with gold acrylic. I then cut round the image and used it as a focal point. I really liked how this turned out! I would like to continue experimenting with combining my fine art side with my craft side.

Day 49: The Full Story

As usual for the last collage this week we were tasked to use any or all of this week’s prompts.

I decided to use some of the gel prints I’d created in earlier lessons. I wanted to create a story like in day 43. I used vintage photographs, book text, handwriting and images to create a narrative. It was a extension of the story I crafted in day 43. It centers around a character who ventures out to different gardens around the world.

I really enjoyed this week of prompts and classes! We are now nearly half way through our 100 days of collage challenge!

So far I have really enjoyed creating on my gel plate. I have loved exploring narrative and using my own art or photographs in my work. I hope to expand on these ideas throughout the next 50 days of collage! See you along the way!