Studio Series: Poetic Memory Collages

Poetic Memory collages © Karen Thiessen, 2015

This year I've been painting, stitching, and collaging with my Poetic Memory series in mind. The colour palette, spacing, and feel of my work has changed. One day last week I did 50 two inch square collages while listening to Beck's Morning Phase CD. The collage blitz allowed me to get a feel for the series. Altogether I've done 81 of these collages and 60 are to my liking.

Poetic Memory collages © Karen Thiessen, 2015

I've put the strongest collages in slide protectors so that I could hang them on my studio wall and then look at them while riding my exercise bike or practicing yoga. The use of so much white space is new for me. The collages have room to breathe.

Poetic Memory collages © Karen Thiessen, 2015

I've screen printed some patterns onto acid-free bristol so that I can collage over them. The Poetic Memory series announced itself on January 1, 2014 and after a year of reading, research, writing, sample-making, and incubation it is finally moving forward. I'm curious to see how I'll translate the two inch collages into finished textiles and collages. It's still a mystery.