Please Recycle This Envelope

Please Recycle This Envelope is a new collage that was created out of a concern for the environment. Paper and packaging that arrived through the mail was collected and used as collaging material. While I was working on this collage the United States Postal Service had been in the news for being used to suppress the vote. This collage is meant to raise people’s awareness on this issue as well. Please Recycle This Envelope measures 30'“ x 30” x 1 3/8” and made on a primed stretched canvas using mixed media that includes paint, recycled printed material, and packaging.

I have collaged on a small scale for a long time and attained much success. In order to grow as an artist I made the difficult decision to make changes to my collaging practice. One area I have focused on changing is the scale of my collages. Please Recycle This Envelope is the largest collage I have created to date. I documented my art process below to share with you my design process. This collage evolved over several weeks with a great deal of thought and care. Please Recycle This Envelope was donated to ArtsWestchester’s Gala Benefit, which supports the arts in Westchester County in New York.

Step 1: I used black paper to explore ways to create an interesting ground and highlight the circles cut from packaging material.

Step 2: I added white and black strips cut from paper to create movement and more interest. I was thinking about Mark Making and how that would look on the canvas. I liked the energy the lines created and the strips helped me decide to use Mark Making.

Step 3: I painted all four corners of the canvas black, then used a stippling technique with white paint to break up all the black. I also used Mark Making with white paint to create movement and break up more areas that were painted black. After I was satisfied with how the canvas was looking I added the circles and spent a lot of time positioning them on the canvas so the colors, textures, text and layout were balanced.

This photograph highlights Mark Making and stippling techniques I used on Please Recycle This Envelope.

This photograph highlights the variety of recycled materials used in Please Recycle This Envelope.