Recently I created a collage as my contribution for the Collective Imprint Zine hosted by SLART, a gouache and coloured pencil piece on recycled cotton paper. The zine combines works by 100 artists, exploring the theme of analogue creativity and what this means in a world influenced by digital landscapes. I chose collage as my medium because the act of painting, cutting and assembling paper is a hands-on, analogue activity. The process can be fiddly, at times requiring precision and patience, but it is also deeply satisfying when certain pieces fall effortlessly into place.

To build texture, I painted a range of colours onto paper using gouache, dry brushing to create depth and subtle variations in tone. These layers formed the foundation of the collage, which features a profile sliced in half to visually delve into the mind. With a swivel craft knife, I carved curved edges, capturing the movement of a turbulent tornado to depict the unpredictability of sharing art online. I included several motifs to represent different aspects that impact creatives - likes, engagement, notifications, stats. These elements highlight the pressure to constantly stay online, feeling unable to switch off, ultimately leading to burnout.

It can be disheartening when your work goes unseen on Instagram, buried under an algorithm that prioritises viral, attention grabbing content. Like many illustrators, I have tried the recommended strategies to reach a wider audience - hashtags, posting at a specific time of day, writing lengthy captions, creating reels, using trending audio clips. It means that we have to prioritise marketing ourselves, chase the ever-changing algorithm, keep up with trends, churn out content to stay relevant and still risk going unnoticed. It raises the question of why we spend so much of our energy on this rather than towards the actual art we want to create. Social media does create thriving online communities, however in recent times this has been overshadowed by the push to create an addictive platform that keeps users hooked.

The increase of short-form content has also had worsening impacts on our attention span. When do we give ourselves the space to be bored, to daydream and to let ideas take shape organically? Instead of trying keep up with Instagram’s demands, I have been prioritising longer form content, such as this newsletter. It allows me to build more meaningful connections at a slower, more sustainable pace.

Introspection is a theme that I’m drawn towards, our inner world and thought processes. It’s a rewarding feeling to notice old ideas and themes in illustrations from a couple of years ago. Elements from artworks I created in 2023 found their way into this collage. Rediscovering past digital illustrations in a different medium allows for these ideas to take new forms, a reminder of the non-linear nature of creativity, how some ideas linger longer than others.

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#9: digital overwhelm - an exploration through collage

#10: when the magnolias bloom

#8: imperfection as a human quality