rebecca trawick (NOTPAPER (a blog about collage))

Rebecca's collage are like vintage scrapbooking meets design. At first glance, they may appear to be pretty typical of that "scrapbook" style, but they definitely have a well-designed edge to them. Fittingly, her vintagey work is featured in Uppercase gallery's Old School (show and book).

Name (Real or Screename): Rebecca Trawick, Bluebird Studios
URL (Blog, Website): www.bluebirdstudios.com
Location (Where are you from?): California

Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: Vintage inspired cut + paste, sometimes with a naughty edge.

Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: Vintage paper ephemera is my favorite—from handwritten letters, recipes and found materials to old book pages, illustrations and covers. Also vintage magazines, photos, wallpapers, and type. I also love repro papers from Paper Source and other sources.

Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: I’ve been creating for about 10 years—as a college student studying studio arts (painting and drawing concentration) who didn’t have a studio, creating small portable works at the kitchen table was key. I quickly realized I liked this small, intense approach. It definitely came out of my sketchbook style as well—I’ve always treated them more like a place to store snippets, inspiration, colour and texture.

Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: In addition to being an artist and mother, I work at a small contemporary art museum in Southern CA (Wignall Museum) where I act as director and curator.

Q: Do you have any formal art training?
A: I received my undergrad degree in Studio Arts (painting/drawing) in 1998.

Q: Explain your favourite techniques.
A: I’m pretty basic, I must admit—uhu sticks are a must, a good pair of scissors, a blade and a cutting mat. That’s really all I need! Lately I’ve been experimenting with removing layers or weathering layers, though and I’m having a lot of fun with that.

Q: Describe your favourite piece ever created.
A: I don’t have one favorite piece really; I feel like I’m always getting better at my craft, so sometimes it’s hard to look at old work though!

Q: What other artists do you admire?
A: Oh so many... Collage artists include: Paul Butler, Eduardo Recife, David Wallace, Pat Streeter, Claudine Hellmuth, Pepe Mar, Lance Letscher, Mary Emma Hawthorne, Charles Wilkin, Michelle Caplan and many, many others!!!

Thanks Rebecca!