Liz has so many amazing pieces, it was almost impossible to choose my favourites. I really admire her work, and reading about her dedication makes me wonder if I will someday be an artist instead of a graphic designer. (We'll see how it plays out!). I hope to revisit this artist in the future for more of her stunning examples.

Name (Real or Screename): Liz Cohn, lizole
URL (Blog, Website): www.lizcohnartstudio.com and lizole.deviantart.com
Location (Where are you from?): Portland, Oregon

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: Mixed media collage created by hand

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: I work with cardboard, gesso, acrylics, ink pens, pencil, found dimensional objects, vintage books, vintage magazines, new magazines, printed papers, and rub on letters.

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: I've been a full time artist for 7 years, but I have exhibited professionally for 15 years all over the US. In 2003 I devoted myself to collage when a dear friend of mine was bankrupt and living for 9 months in my art studio. I was unable to paint and out of desperation, I turned to an art form I could do inside my house — collage. I dabbled in digital collage and made my way to glue and paper collage. I love what the digital people can do but I spend 6 hours just tweaking pixels and it was driving me nuts. Once I found glue and paper — I was ravenous for it.

Q: Explain your favourite techniques.
A: I like to reuse cardboard. I gesso it to create a clean archival surface. I plow through my boxes and boxes of images and find lines and patterns, colors and textures that dance to my eye. I try to stay away from themes, but they seem to evolve on their own. I use acrylic gel medium for glue. If I add a 3D element, there is the extra challenge of how to adhere that piece. Some small finished collages get traded on my Flickr and deviantART sites. The piece I judge as gallery worthy will be mounted on top of a wood box that frames the piece without glass and gives the collage a depth and solidness and weight that makes it look like serious art — which it is.