At the start of 2020, I found myself wanting to break free of working with what I call "the grid system". My collage work up until this point had been all about right angles and lining things up, as if each shape was placed on a grid of squares imposed on the plane of the paper (or picture frame). It's a very "geometric" and ordered approach to working. Though I loved the results, I began to feel limited. Would I always be stuck with this grid? At the same time I was questioning how I was working, I had also started drawing and cutting shapes free form for my sketchbook just for fun. I didn't really have enough confidence to use them in my work though, believing they somehow weren't "perfect". As I cut more and more organic shapes though I began to gain some insight. Perhaps these less than perfect shapes could be used? I still had some doubts. And then one day, just by accident, I looked at all of the cast off clippings of paper on my floor. These were the pieces of paper left over from having cut out many shapes. I started to wonder about just taking those pieces and gluing them down in a very open and free flowing kind of way, no restrictions or grid needed. The results from my first test piece were pretty good so I kept going. And going and going! I love what is happening so far with these pieces and plan to continue with this idea. The results are always a surprise to me!
