We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melanie Curry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Sometimes, it feels like the world around us absorbs all the light, leading us to struggle to make sense of it. In our attempts to understand, we often find ourselves retreating in our minds to simpler, easier times.

I recently found myself in this quandary of struggling to find the light in darkness, and I began recalling those carefree times as a child when I believed all the world was my playground.

I remember walking home from school, and the moment I reached our yard, my shoes and socks would come off, and my bare feet would sink into the cool, green grass. At the time, I wasn’t aware that I was grounding myself back to Mother Earth, but the effect was instant relaxation and a sense of needed calmness.

Inside the house, my mother would already be in the kitchen, preparing dinner for our large family. This day was special because the electric mixer was out, and the counter was covered with the remnants of baking. She would stop the mixer, pull out the beaters, and hand them to my brother and me. What an unexpected treat! And what perfect timing! It was as if she knew we would be walking in the door just then.

With these memories softening my heart, I started to realize that there were many others I hadn’t thought about in years.

Thus began a series of childhood memories brought to life through paper collage.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a paper collage artist based in Portland, Oregon, specializing in creating unique and personalized artwork using found papers, as well as hand-painted and stenciled materials. My focus is on crafting collages from provided photographs for commissions, transforming meaningful memories into beautiful pieces of art. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for paper, my work reflects my creativity and dedication to my craft.

For the most part, I am a self-taught artist. I have been intrigued by various art mediums since I was a young girl, often oscillating between being a professional and a hobbyist.

After earning a degree in technical illustration, I shifted my focus and built a successful career as a graphic designer. However, my life took an unexpected turn in 1994 when I was diagnosed with leukemia, which ultimately led to a bone marrow transplant. This challenging experience abruptly derailed my career.

During the five years it took for me to fully recover, and in the years since, I have experimented with a variety of art mediums. Many of my pieces have been displayed in galleries, and some have received awards at art shows. Others have been commissioned works or simply expressive explorations created for the joy of artistry.

Throughout this time, I have engaged with watercolor, colored pencils, acrylics, metal clay jewelry, fountain pens, and most recently, paper collage.

I discovered the art of collage during the first—and hopefully last—COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. In search of new creative inspiration, I began following paper collage artists online. Intrigued by the concept, I jumped in with great enthusiasm. Initially, I realized that my skills were limited; however, I credit my background in technical illustration and graphic design for giving me the foundational skills and patience needed to succeed in this medium.

I like to think of working with paper and glue as a form of magic. It fascinates and delights me to take found papers and blend them with seemingly disconnected hand-painted and stenciled pieces, creating unique shapes and tonal qualities in my art. When crafting a new paper collage, I strive to achieve a balance of realism along with playful colors and patterns that invite the viewer’s eye to linger. A bonus in my artistic journey is that my subjects often communicate with and inspire me while I work!

I have completed numerous commissions for pet portraits, including those of pets that have crossed the rainbow bridge. Each pet seems to communicate elements that should be included in their collage. While I am working, I often notice disconnected words or phrases emerging. Sometimes, the color of a toy requested by the owner differs from what is shown in the reference photo I am using. I have learned to pay attention to these cues, and more often than not, the pet owners confirm that these are indeed their pets’ wishes!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Precision and perfection aren’t everything they’re made out to be!

Before computers became mainstream, I worked as a technical illustrator, using tools like compasses, pens, knives, and rulers to create my artwork. In the early days, I meticulously inked exploded views of machine parts for technical manuals. Later, as I transitioned to graphic design, I employed literal cut-and-paste techniques to assemble magazine layouts and promotional materials. I used crop marks and wax galleys to ensure that every element was perfectly aligned. When the proofs were inspected, there shouldn’t have been a single misaligned paragraph. I learned that a correction at the printer could be a costly mistake—one I only made once!

Now, I’ve discovered the joy of embracing imperfections. A torn edge or an unexpected blob of bright acrylic paint can add an exciting element to a piece. The flaws I would have never tolerated 30 years ago are now effects I actively strive to achieve!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I faced significant challenges while dealing with my leukemia diagnosis, going through treatment, and navigating a long healing journey. I quickly realized that returning to the high-pressure demands of being creatively available on demand—something that had been a staple of my work with clients in the graphics industry—was no longer feasible. Instead, I discovered that creating art solely for myself, along with the occasional project for a client, became the most healing activity I could engage in for my well-being.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.paperartwarrior.com/