Creative Process:
Inspiration for my 'Jamaica' collage came from Exercise 36: Random Collage - Why Not Be Out of Control in Creating Abstract Art: Ideas and Inspirations for Passionate Art-Making by Dean Nimmer.
I've completed a few collages over the years, so thought this project would offer light relief from my other drawings. As Dean Nimmer states: 'Collages are easy to make, inexpensive and, most importantly, offer a thoroughly enjoyable process!'
'Removing the ability to control the outcome of your composition can be unnerving and liberating at the same time.' I'm not sure I completely went along with this idea, but I did start by choosing the fairly old, yet meaningful, map of Jamaica, that I used when I toured the island on many occasions (12) between the years 1996 and 2008.
The map of Jamaica needed to fit on A3 size paper, so I folded the far right section over and when it came to framing, I left it open, without glass.
The photos were a random selection. However, the Rastafarian colours, red - the blood shed of the African people; yellow - the sunshine of the African land and green - the lush greenery of the African continent, were deliberate, and this is where the work came in, of ensuring the balance of colours, filled in with coloured pencils, blended throughout the whole collage.
I thoroughly enjoyed creating this collage, which inspired me to hang it along with my four framed photographs of Bob Marley - see below. The whole 'Jamaica' wall, in my living room, has since become a cultural and historical talking piece as I share my travel experiences with friends and family.
