Non-digital collages - The CreativeMindClass Blog

"I live and work at Bristol UK and studied Illustration at Brighton UK. I've been working as an illustrator and artist since 2013 with my concentration slowly shifting through the years from bright and vivid character designs to more abstracted and intense work. My style is to create work by combining collage, drawing, or a mixture of both as well as occasionally, 3D. I also self-publish and create a lot of zines and sometimes comics."

What would you say about your collage style?

"Primarily not digital" (though this is a personal choice but both ways of working are as valid as each other) with lots of textures on paper. I used to create work with lots of bright shades, but I've tried to be more mindful and calm using my colors over the last few years. I place a great deal of focus on the composition of shapes and patterns as well. Most of my work is fairly playful as I think of the collage and drawing I make as an act of play, or an activity of enjoyment."

What's the secret to creating collages?

"It's hard to pick a single 'key' to the way I make illustrations as well as other art. The feeling of having fun, joy, and play is the primary reason I make work, so I constantly try to find a way to incorporate that in whatever I create. I always tell myself 'If I'm having a hard time creating this piece, then I shouldn't make it and I need to come up with a different approach'. Most of the time with Illustration projects, I've found that for the best result, simplifying everything is a huge help. I often get bogged down on details, or some specific ideas or points then have to take a step back and simplify everything to the simplest of elements. It's a common practice to apply this as much to content as it can to shape."

"I created a work for a really worthwhile project that just launched here in the UK known as Communitea. The project involved 55 artists like myself. invited to make a piece of work in response to the connection we have with Chinese culture, which can now be purchased in the form of a poster at Roomfifty with all profits going towards helping in saving the London Chinese Community center from being shut down and to combat the rise of anti-Asian hate."

Explore more collages by Ed through Instagram as well as his site.