100 Collages

The #100 Day Project starts each year in February. There is a website, weekly emails, and social media support. You choose an idea you want to explore and post your work every day on Instagram using the #100dayproject hashtag. I completed three of them, and each time my art improved and gained many followers on Instagram. (I wrote blog posts about each of them and you can see them here, here, and here).

When the project started this year, I felt that pull to join, but I knew my schedule was already too packed. Creating the art is one project and writing Instagram captions feels like adding a second project.

At the same time the project was launching, I was teaching a class where the students requested a lesson inspired by Rex Ray and Matisse. I spent the week cutting up magazines and enjoyed the paper, typography, and colors. I realized this would be an exceptional 100 Day Project, if I had the time (but I didn’t).

But if I’d learned anything from doing three of these 100 Day Projects, it was how flexible they are, so I created a challenge with far fewer rules and expectations than my past projects.

Here’s how my 100 Collage Challenge works:

1. I have a cafeteria tray in my living room with two vintage magazines, scissors, glue sticks, an old magazine to glue on, and some printmaking paper ripped down to 8” x 6” squares

2. When I’m feeling inspired, I take the tray and make a collage (or 2, 3, 4…). I can sit on the floor, the couch, move upstairs, outside… It’s a no mess, portable art project

3. When I have a stack of seven, I film a video where I flip through the collages

4. This becomes an Instagram Reel where I number them (1-7/100)

5. I’m using the materials I already have and not buying anything new

6. I spend a maximum of 15 minutes on one collage

7. If I never finish the project, no one will notice or be bothered (not even me)

The Results

1. If I create several collages at once, then I don’t have to make one a day

2. The Reels are much easier to create than scanning and posting the individual collages

3. These would make great prints

4. I could also license them as prints

5. The colors inspire more adventuresome color mixing for letterpress printing

6. The shapes I’m making are showing up in my larger collage pieces

7. I can hang out with my family and make something (instead of being alone in my studio)

8. These supplies will pack nicely for car trips/weekends away

9. I’ve added magazine collages to my next in-person workshop

10. I’m going to scale up some of these compositions using different materials

11. If I have nothing to post, I can use one of these collages (reusing content!)

12. I’ve realized I love vintage magazines and there are some I’ve collected that I’ll never cut

Watch the Reels:

# 1-7

#8-14

#15-21

#22-29

Let’s Brainstorm!

What could your 100 be?

• 100 rubber stamps

• 100 4”x4” collages

• 100 line drawings

• 100 positive thoughts

• 100 sketches of your morning coffee

• 100 patterns drawn with black ink

• 100 gelli prints

• 100 contour drawings

• 100 matchbook cover collages

• 100 collages made with papers in your scrap boxes

• 100 stitches on cloth

• 100 items donated from your art supplies (just kidding- keep your supplies)

Add your idea in the comments.