Featured Artist Margret Petrie

Artist Margret Petrie presents a collection of contemporary abstract works made with collaged monoprints. See more of her portfolio by visiting her website.

 

 

I am a self-taught visual artist obsessed with making collages from my unique printed papers.

 

 

My work has been featured in galleries, retail shops, and juried exhibitions. I have created coasters and plates from original collage designs and continue to make original notecards on commission.

 

 

I use a Gelli plate to create monoprints that I use in my abstract collages. When beginning a new collage, I sort through my piles of hundreds of these printed papers and decide on a color palette. Once I have a small stack of prints, I start cutting and pasting.

 

 

Most often it’s the tiny scraps and bits that call out to me and make their way into a piece. I work very small and could not do this work without my coveted tweezers and scissors.

 

 

A turning point in my art practice came when I was selected to participate in an exhibit which required creating one small work each day for thirty consecutive days.

 

 

I had always struggled with leaving white space in my artwork, even though it’s what I am drawn to. Adding the daily ritual of starting and finishing one piece after my meditation practice pulled me deeper into a place of acceptance, both of myself and my body of work.

 

 

I made an intentional decision to find the white space in each piece and trust that the end result would be rewarding.

 

 

Most days, I was able to purposefully dismiss my inner critic, not second guess, and to stop and not make another mark or add another shape. To let it be. To leave the white space. My self-doubt subsided and I was able to create quickly and intuitively.

 

 

I am thrilled with the results! My large collage grids, some of which have 220 small 3” collages within them, came out of this experience.

 

 

I started the Authentic Obsessions podcast because I needed to connect with other artists and hear how they keep showing up in spite of obstacles and fears. I am interested in how physical spaces influence an artist’s mental and emotional life, and how this relates to creativity and productivity. The conversations are honest and candid, and my guests are vulnerable and inspiring.

 

Artist Margret Petrie invites you to follow her on Instagram, Facebook and her Authentic Obsessions Podcast.

 

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