Nonobjective collage artist Elayne Windsor – in her own words
Edited by Margaret Cunningham
As a nonobjective collage artist, I work with found and new paper to create collages on paper, canvas, birch panel or plywood. My Art pieces explore many possibilities that collage has to offer. I am inspired by the qualities of paper. I don’t necessarily focus on the images on the paper, rather I might pick up tissue paper and create a piece that reflects the light, airy nature of the paper. I am inspired by the simplicity of paper, how new life can be rendered out of things that people discard. People swoon over animals or flowers, I swoon over paper!
2020 was a fantastic opportunity to focus. As an artist, my passion is creating but I knew I need to find balance between Art and the business of Art. The Art flows out of me, the business end is a chore. This past year gave me the space, and the time, to figure this out.
I participated in several online courses and workshops, including a course on Instagram. I learned how to add videos, create stories, add links and basically focus on my purpose and the viewer’s interests. Engaging with people online has drawn them into my circle. I produced a calendar of my work for the holidays, from which I sold to buyers from as far away as Northern Ontario and Mexico.
A collage course online with Kal Honey connected me with collage artists across the country, some of whom I now communicate with weekly. I learned how to be more effective in speaking about my Art.
I took advantage of Online Art shows. As an emerging artist, building a show history is crucial. Winning several awards provided funds to cover the costs to continue. Juried shows have forged new connections and allowed galleries to learn more about me as an artist, and lead to two solo shows. It also led to being juried into both Toronto’s “Colour and Form Society” and the “Ontario Society of Artists”, where membership provides access to more shows and connection to the broader Art world.
In 2021, I intend to build my resume, exhibiting in a wider geographic circle. I am excited to work, learn and exhibit with professional artists from across Ontario. Work has begun to better catalogue my Art, creating folders to track submissions, and organizing binders to track works sold.
In the end, I want to continue with the joy in creating Art, selling a piece comes second to the creative process for me.
