Germinate, collage on paper, 2019 
Rainbow mix, collage on paper, 2019 
What have you learned…? Collage on paper, 2019
The prompt for this week’s activity was to use Citrasolv, ideally with a National Geographic to make ‘papers’ for collaging. We were asked to create at least three collages. I had tried to do some photo-transfers before using Citrasolv with little success so wasn’t too sure what was going to happen.
I was also a bit concerned that, as with the earlier Cyanotype activity, once I had created the papers, I might not know how to use them to create a final image. I didn’t have an NG to hand so had to try some other magazines. I saturated and used some of the pages immediately and left others to soak for longer. None of them seemed to create the sort of effects I have seen with NG, but it did loosen the ink and gave some painterly features.
In the end I was quite pleased with the results, not what I expected but they each have qualities that appeal to me in terms of texture, atmosphere and colour. ‘What have you learned…’ is my favourite of the group. I like its murky moodiness, and it reminds me of crossing Waterloo Bridge in the depths of winter. The thing I enjoy about collage is I never know where I am going to end up, even if I have something in my mind’s eye!