A Collage Collection

Notes on record keeping

Hello Collage Friends!

I know it’s been a minute, but I hope you’re keeping that collage table filled with ideas, materials, and works in process.

After a little hiatus to take care of other art projects, my collage table is back in action and ready to spur some creativity… AFTER I collect up the pieces I had already finished and get them cataloged. So, that is what I’m doing this morning and what I thought you might like to see.

I’ve been making art professionally for two decades now. I have very few regrets about how I go about my art-making business, but one of them is that I was not always careful about maintaining records of the work I’ve made. Apart from the year of images I lost due to a computer crash and the misplaced CDs of art images, I wish I had an actual count of every piece I’ve finished. At best, I can estimate.

So, when I decided to start a new line of vintage collage work last year, I encouraged myself to keep records and catalog each one with a serial number and name. As I progressed, I found one way to encourage myself to do this is to make a post-creation checklist. Even though this may morph over time as I build the series, once I’ve settled on a process for recording and presenting the pieces, I need to write it down.

Vintage Collage Post-Creation Checklist

1. Add the serial number, signature, and website to the back of the mounting supply (blank white notecard).

2. Secure threads and paper edges on the back with the artist's tape and add the serial number, signature, and date.

3. Mount the collage onto the backing.

4. Add the title in pencil.

5. Photograph

6. Package

7. Record in Log Book

Process Photos for BK (Be Kind) Collage Series

I know that if I don’t write down the process in detail, I will not keep it consistent (As in serial numbers 1 through 70). I’m now far enough into making these pieces that I need to settle on my presentation and record-keeping process—especially since I absolutely love making them and have every intention of doing so for quite a while.

To keep this process on track, I also purchased a self-inking stamp so that I could easily determine the next serial number without making a fuss or checking records. (I also block off time periodically to update an online spreadsheet from my analog notes. It may be a double entry, but it’s the only way I can get myself to maintain records. I simply prefer and will be more likely to adhere to hand-written systems, but I find databases extremely useful for generating online catalogs.)

I hope this brief glimpse into my art practice gives you some ideas for maintaining and keeping records for your own collages and art. It’s not perfect, but it’s so fun to look back and see what’s been created and how the art has progressed over time. And now I know, if I stay the course, it looks like I’ll make over 100 little collages this year!

In the meantime, I’ll try to get back on track for our collage topics and share the plan for our Collage O Community show coming this Fall, too! I do have another big month of shows and travel coming up, so my posting days and times might be irregular, but I’m excited to get the ball rolling for a creatively collageful Fall together!

Happy collaging!

Jennifer

p.s. if you want to know more about why this collage series is called “BKind” - feel free to visit my website: JenniferLommers.com/bkind