When making paper collages I paint with paper using the paper as if it was paint - separating tones and values in separate containers similar to arranging hues of paint on a palette when painting. I particularly enjoy doing mixed media collage paintings as they possess the best of both worlds. In a historical piece or a piece with social or political commentary I use collage elements not for color but for the powerful use of text inserts and photo imagery as in the above piece entitled " New Bedford Grit " from my collage show last year.
With that said I finally came to the conclusion that a mixed media collage painting was the way to go with this piece for "New Bedford Harbor in a New Light"
Alison