Being a Paper Hoarder | Collage week 50 2025
I have created a lot of collages over the years, and in 2025 I created 365 new artworks. I am very proud of this fact, and happy to have reached my goal before the year ended even though I have 2 more posts of collages to share on the blog because the days run out to blog them.
This week I was really feeling that I need to work on my paper hoarding tendencies a bit in the new year. I do think it is valid to keep a large stash of scraps, pretty papers and images if you’re a collage artist, but this much, Hanna? No, it’s a bit too much. As evident in the fact that in these seven collages I have used scraps from the past +15 years, and papers keep coming into my life. Alas, some of these have been my favorites. I found a few more copies of my “imaginary boyfriend” image, for example, and used those up here. Some were copies of my copies, that I’d painted on.
That series was started way, way back in 2010 – so about 15 years ago, right? OMG, that’s a long time to keep paper bits. Finding these images made me feel like a hoarder rather than inspired by myself, and I didn’t like that feeling. It made me feel stuck in the past rather than moving forward, creating new artworks even though I really love these new artworks as well and have enjoyed the series. But enough is enough.
It made me feel like they’re remnants of a life I used to live, thoughts I used to think perhaps. Like I was making these collages at the end of the year to clear out papers rather than creating for creativity’s sake. It might simply be the end-of-the-year-tiredness, or nostalgia, or sadness that this project will soon be over… But it was a bit distressing to realize. I at least I moved forward with the seven collages and finished them, so that is good.
Being organized isn’t about getting rid of everything you own or trying to become a different person: it’s about living the way you want to live, but better.
— Andrew Mellen
To give another example, the text on pink paper in this collage is from my Mettazine, also created in 2010 for a swap, but maybe it’s appropriate to use all of these old favorites together and let the juxtaposition come together into something brand new.
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
— William Morris
Maybe it’s my downfall that I find almost every paper scrap beautiful and full of artistic potential…
— iHanna
Paperwork, in all it’s forms, is the most commonly hoarded item. If you think about it, it is the most common thing that comes into our home both actively and passively. There’s the non-stop onslaught of mail coming in to our home on a daily basis and the diverse types of paperwork given to us on a daily basis such as receipts, coupons, business cards, educational materials, etc…
— center for hoarding
The problem (and joy) of being a collage artist is that everything has collage material potential. Even really plain and boring papers can be altered, painted, crumbled or refreshed if you’re a crafter. It is also easy to create new material from free papers, and to hoard it all for a day when you might need it… :-)
Creating these collages I whittled down my collage inbox quite a bit, so at least there’s that. I looked at each piece and got rid of some of the smallest or most plain bits. That makes my small desk look neater because now my scrap inbox is not overflowing, which is good.
Progress, right?
Thank you so much for clicking over, taking a look and leaving me a comment below telling me which of these collages you like best – and why you like it. I’d also really like to know if you have any art or craft material that you think is “too much” and why? What will you do about it in the new year?
Take care. I’m wishing you a very happy new creative year!
Please also check out week 50 in 2013 (The Wild Edition) and
week 50 in 2018 (Explained with other words) if you have the time.
About this project: I am making one collage for each day of the year in 2025 and blogging seven at a time each week here. Thanks for helping me finish this by cheering me on. I appreciate you being here.
❤
365 collages in 2025 | previously: week 49 | week 50 | next: week 51
All art created by hand by iHanna. Copyright Hanna Andersson. All rights reserved. AI FUCK OF
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I discovered you on Bluesky. As an artist who incorporates painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, and now stitching into my work, I often joke that my studio is an art store masquerading as a creative space. I have a ridiculous amount of stuff considering I’m 67 years old and will never use it all before I croak. But eventually, someone else will. In the meanwhile, it’s all tidy, organized, and easy to find when I want it. So I don’t feel like I am hoarding, but I sure get what you mean because I love opening my collage paper storage drawers, and seeing lots of stuff in there. I too rarely see a pretty piece of paper that doesn’t want to make its way into my stash. There are worse habits to have lol! I like your collages a lot, but in particular I like number 346 best for two reasons: that juicy magenta paper on the bottom, and the way paint appears to partially obscure some of the imagery. I like somewhat hidden things in art that offer a sense of mystery or suggest that things can’t always be seen with perfect clarity. I know blogs are out of fashion these days, but I like reading the longer form thoughts of artists about their work. Thanks for sharing your work in this way.
I think the one in memoriam to the bird is my favorite. I try to live and die by the William Morris quote. My mother once said, why do you have such pretty things and I don’t think I answered her properly, but my answer to the world is “AND WHY NOT?” I probably need to clear out my scraps too. I have two shopping bags full of old magazines and other scraps. I need to start doing more collage, is what.
Thank you, as always.