This collage was a demonstration to the Colorado Art Educators Association. Each year, this association hires professional artists to teach classes at their conferences, providing an opportunity for artists to share their knowledge and expertise. The collage created is composed of four individual pieces, which are fused together using acid-free hinging tape.

Collage art has been a constant source of joy and fulfillment for me. It offers a unique way to repurpose objects that hold sentimental value, allowing them to transcend their original purpose and avoid being discarded. Whether it's an old toy that was once treasured by my children, a lone earring without its pair, or captivating images from high-quality magazines, each component finds a new life and meaning within my creations. Even fragments from failed paintings, torn apart and reimagined, contribute to the birth of something fresh.

The process of rearranging elements across the canvas during the creation of a collage brings about a sense of tranquility and meditation within me. As I manipulate each fragment, it becomes a contemplative journey where I create harmony in the arrangement of these disparate pieces.

Each component I select for my collages possesses a distinct voice that resonates with me on a personal level. Through careful arrangement, I unveil a new creation

—an evocative testament to the boundless possibilities that exist within our lives. These works serve as powerful reminders, both for the viewers and for myself, of the endless potential that can be discovered and embraced in every aspect of our existence.

for more day to day of my art life: @courtneycottonetal on Instagram