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Digital Collages

The tools and techniques available on Adobe Photoshop perfectly compliment my evolved technique of constructing mixed media paintings – layering of colours and textures, stencilling, cutting, deconstructing, reconstructing.

In September 2015, I enrolled on a weekly programme of classes in Digital Painting at Plymouth College of Art. We were encouraged to playfully explore and experiment with the endless choice of tools and functions, all at our fingertips: numerous brushes with ranges of textures, paint loads, opacity, flow and so on. Colours to die for, cutting out and manipulation functions, etc.

“You know sometimes I get so carried away, I wipe my fingers at the end thinking I’ve got paint on them.” David Hockney on instant iPad art

This was all very exciting, whilst also dealing with familiar concerns for me of contrast of form, colour and texture, games with space and depth and a general delight for the eye.

The technique of digital collage is one which I am keen to develop, most especially using as a starting point images of my existing finished paintings. Manipulating previously settled-for colours and textures, chopping up and rearranging compositions and repetitive motifs, has produced some great results. Currently the collages exist as mere experiments with a hope to develop them more fully into designs which would work as well on a wall, stage set or length of fabric as on a greeting card, scarf or even piece of furniture.

Workshops for Everyone

I work with individuals and groups of up to 30. My aim is to deliver a fun and stimulating environment in which experimentation and expression is maximised.
Sara Downham Lotto