Jazz & Flowers No. 1, paper collage, 2026

In November 2022, I made a small collection of collage art titled, “Jazz & Flowers.” Those collages were made largely of scrap paper–mostly flowers because I always have lots of scrap paper flowers. I would describe that collection as simple and dreamy. The collages were rather spontaneous, as I remember, and not only fun to create, but also a great way to utlilize scraps.

Yesterday, I thought it might be fun to do an exercise like that again. (My box of scrap paper is nearly filled to the top.) So, I did the same thing I did four years ago: I put on some instrumental jazz and started cutting and pasting.

As I was working, I found myself particularly drawn to the vintage car ads in my 1950s National Geographic magazines (I buy 1950s Nat Geos as much for the ads as for the content.) Those ads, which usually feature an elegantly dressed couple or group of people standing beside a brightly colored Buick or Cadillac, are some of my favorite pieces to work with. I often save them for my holiday-themed artwork, as they fit perfectly into collages that have a classic holiday feel. (I love the aesthetics of an elegant, classic Christmas.)

And indeed, this Jazz & Flowers collection prompted me to think about my holiday artwork this year–and gave me an idea. I am currently designing a series of postcards using my holiday art titled, “Postcards from Chistmas Past” and making them available in my Etsy shop (and possibly locally in Charlotte, as well) as a bundle of maybe five standard size (4×6 in.) postcards with a usable back. They can be sent to friends and family as a holiday greeting or used as stocking stuffers. And since they’re standard size, they’ll be easy to frame and display during the season. I think Jazz & Flowers No. 1 (above) and possibly No. 2 (below) might work well in that collection.

I hope you enjoy these experiments in collage art.