Mixed media collage - start to finish

Ever wonder what it takes for mixed media artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson to create her one-of-a-kind collages? Enjoy this video that shows one of her peacocks starting as a drawing and progressing through Elizabeth adding all the unique papers.

Learn collage making

Mixed media collage artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson will be teaching her "paper painting" collage techniques the following times throughout 2011:

• Johns Creek Art Center, April 30 and May 1, Johns Creek, Georgia
• Grand Bohemian Gallery, June 3 through 5, Asheville, North Carolina
• Binders, June 9 through 12, Atlanta, Georgia
• Art Gallery of Viera, September 10 and 11, Viera, Florida
• Amelia Island Artists' Workshop, October 7 through 9, Amelia Island, Florida

If you're interested in connecting with Elizabeth through one of her workshops, drop us an email to info@cowartandmore.com to get more information.

Mixed media artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson

The March 2010 featured artist was painter and mixed media collage creator, Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson. Elizabeth makes her favorite images into paintings. From there, she layers them with papers, fabrics, feathers and anything else with texture, to create unique three-dimensional pieces. In addition to being an artist, Elizabeth maintains her own design firm, Nelson Creative, with her husband Doug. She lives with her husband and two children in central Florida.

Why do you create your art?

I have always been an artist. As I child I loved to paint and draw and excelled at it. I attended Syracuse University's School of Visual and Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts there in 1990. I paint because it is who I am and always have been, it makes me happy to take a little time just for myself and to go to my creative place.

How did you get started?

I have always been an artist. As I child I loved to paint and draw and excelled at it. I attended Syracuse University's School of Visual and Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts there in 1990.


What is your technique?

My technique is a figurative form of collage. I take bits of torn hand-made and hand-painted papers, glue them over an acrylic under-painting, to form a recognizable image. I call this "Paper Paintings" because from a distance my work very much resembles an impressionistic painting.

Where did you learn your technique?

My technique is something I evolved on my own. I was a talented painter and pastel artist, but there were many more talented people using those mediums here in Orlando. I wanted to find a way to set my work apart from everyone else's. I started adding paper in with my acrylic paintings as a pattern and texture in small areas. Eventually those areas became larger and larger until the paper overtook the paint entirely one day when I challenged myself to create an image without any paint. I liked the effect I got, I liked the fact that this piece "Looking in on Jane" (a portrait of my mother) won Best of Show at OVAL (Orlando Visual Artists League) and then again at the WCA (Women's Caucus for the Arts) Matriarchs and Madonnas exhibit. I knew I was onto something, and so I ran with it.

Over the years my technique has continued to evolve. I used to use art store purchased colored papers. I found out the hard way that these papers fade. So I started hand-painting all my own collage papers. I experimented with color, texture, pattern and paper weight. I learned how to create my own palette of acrylic painted paper–it would not fade and I could create all the colors in the rainbow!

I feel my work is better now that I have such a variety of colors and textures of paper to choose from. I also use related material in my collages. I try to tie in some of the collage material to the subject matter. Some of my cow collages have nursery rhymes in them, "How Now Brown Cow" is an example of this. Some of my roosters have "Hickety Pickety My Fine Hen" intertwined with the Starbucks bags and painted maps, old checks and book pages.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I often get my inspiration from my papers. I find a paper that I think looks fuzzy, and I might use it for a sheep. I find a paper that is lumpy and bumpy and turquoise, and I might use it for the crown of a peacock's head. I find a paper that looks like lace, and I might use it for the fringe on a ballet skirt. I hand-paint a paper that is vibrant, textured, golden yellow, and I might use it on a small finch sitting on a branch.

Other times I am inspired by my frame maker. Owen Tomlin makes frames from reclaimed barn wood in Kentucky. I like to paint images that will work with is amazing hand crafted frames, so I might do an entire series on barnyard animals or botannicals because I know they will look great hanging together as a group, all framed in Owen's frames.

How do you decide what to paint, draw and model?

I like to work in a series of images so that this question is answered for me for a few paintings at a time! I am lucky enough to be represented by several art galleries who will help me with suggestions of images that they feel would sell or would work with a show or theme they are promoting. I also have a big solo show in September at the Maitland Art Center which they have asked me to create pieces related to music. I will be showing 35-40 collages in this exhibition. That's helped me decide what to paint for a while!

How does it take you to get the average creation?

My process is multistep. After finding imagery that I am inspired by, I take photos and manipulate them in Photoshop on my computer until I achieve a composition I am happy with. I might take one cow out of a group or combine her/him with another cow from a different photo, add a barn and drastically raise (or lower) the horizon line behind them. Once I get this worked out on my computer, I print a color image and this is my reference. I then sketch onto primed wood panel. After sketching I do a quick acrylic underpainting in order to work out my values and my colors. When the underpainting is dry, I then start collaging my hand-painted and hand-made papers over the top of the acrylic painting. Keep in mind that the hand-painting of the papers also takes time and I create all my own papers in advance of the collaging process. When the collage is complete, I coat it with two layers of acrylic UV protective varnish and then I do my own framing.

The time it takes in the collage process depends on how it's going, some days things are really working for me and it's coming together quickly, other days nothing is working and I end up going over the same area a few times before I am happy with it. Some subject matter is more complex than others. Some subjects I am good at and have worked out the challenges with practice, so I can really do roosters very efficiently, but dogs are more of a challenge since I have only ever done two. Peacocks take a long time because of all the eyes and detail in the tail feathers.

I guess I'd have to say, it varies!

How did you get interested in creating art of cattle?

I grew up in rural New England; we always had cows and roosters and sheep on farms which we would pass driving from one small town to another. When I was a kid, my parents took us to a lot of petting farms in our area. We would go and get a homemade ice cream at a small dairy and visit the cows, or go for pork sausage at a small farm and visit the sheep. I guess this was good family fun when I was a kid, these images give me a sense of warmth and a sense of family even today. My sister was married last summer in Amherst, MA, my family decided to stay at a bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town for the weekend. On the property, they had roosters and chickens and a goat or two, a very nice way for me to give my Orlando kids a taste of my childhood!


Do you ever have goof ups or work you don't like?

I always have goof ups that I don't like, but the best thing about collage is that it's a very forgiving medium. I can ALWAYS go right back over the top of any area that I don't like, and make it totally different. This freedom is why I love my medium so much. Even if I change my mind, I can go in and change a color by adding a new piece of paper on top. The ability to fix my mistakes takes a lot of stress out of my work and gives me the freedom to experiment.

What would you like to do more of in the future?

In the future I'd like to do more portraits. I love doing people and I have gotten away from them for a while now. I have a whole series of swimmers in bathing caps that is really fun and colorful and I like it very much. I'd like to do a self portrait with birthday cards too.

What else do you do besides your art?

Besides my art, I am a self employed graphic artist. I spend my days working on layout and design of marketing materials for several clients. I also play the violin with the Maitland Symphony Orchestra, we rehearse once a week and I take violin lessons to help me keep up with the music. I enjoy exercise and I'm currently training for a triathlon and a half marathon. I have a family, my husband and two children, that also keep me busy. I volunteer at our elementary school to bring art to the students every month and I write the lesson plans for this program. I enjoy cooking and I make homemade dinner and breakfast for my family every day.

Lately I have been teaching collage workshops and I have found this to be very fulfilling! I never thought of myself as a teacher, but I enjoy sharing what I love with other artists and aspiring artists.

What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

I have a lot of advice for aspiring artists. I tell them to remember that art is a business, and so you cannot neglect the fact that you have to spend a serious amount of time marketing your own work. You have to get OUT of the studio and get in front of your computer and get out in front of people, network. I also stress how important it is to be reliable. You have to deliver the work when you said you would, you have to meet deadlines and bring work that is ready to hang, professional. You have to be reliable and be someone that galleries know they can count on to deliver. You have to be organized, keep a computer program of your inventory, your contacts, your mailing list, your galleries, and your work. Be prepared to sell yourself and your work, be organized and be original.

Video: Meet mixed media artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson

Learn how artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson juggles her career as an artist, mom, and graphic designer from her central Florida art studio. Viewers will also enjoy the tour of her creative space and learning what difficulties in her life have helped to mold her into the person she is today.

Collage artist on magazine cover

Collage artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson's work is the cover art for the October 2010 edition of Winter Park Magazine. The publication covers the events and happenings of the central Florida and Orlando area. Visitors can also read an online version of the magazine, which features a spread of Elizabeth's work.

Learn collage making with artist Elizabeth St. HIlaire Nelson

Dying to get to know your inner creative soul? Take a class by collage and mixed media artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson at her workshop on Amelia Island, Florida, in early October. No experience is necessary (and come enjoy a few days of rest and relaxation in one of Florida's quaint beach towns). Click here to register.

Experience music as visual art

Cow Art and More collage artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson has created a series of mixed media collage pieces to represent her interpretation of the musical symphony suite The Carnival of the Animals. Her work will be featured by the Maitland (a suburb of Orlando, Florida) Art and History Association. Her "Exquisite Harmony" exhibit will have an artist's reception, September 10, 2010, from 6 to 8 PM.

"Out to Pasture" wins award

The mixed media collage "Out to Pasture", by Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson, recently received a first place award in the mixed media category from The Artist's Magazine online competition. Elizabeth's work was selected from more than 1,800 entries. Read the online press release about Elizabeth's winning piece of cow art.

Mixed media collage artist on display

Mixed media collage artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson will be displaying her paper painting collages along with four other artists whose medium involves paper, at the Gateway Center for the Arts in DeBary, Florida. If you have not been to visit this brand new home of Gateway Art League, the Photo Group, Children’s Play House, Gateway Community Theater, and Gateway Orchestra, you are missing out!

This educational facility for the arts provides classrooms, studios, kiln room, exhibit space, lecture hall, auditorium with innovative performance and small theater ability, catering kitchen, gift shop, offices and lobby-reception area. Elizabeth will be at the exhibit's opening reception on June 20th.

Learn collage making from Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson

Learn collage making and enjoy a relaxing weekend all at the same time! Cow Art and More mixed media artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson will be teaching her "paper painting" technique at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, May 22 and 23, 2010. While you're there, you can also enjoy the reception for Elizabeth's work that is featured all month at the hotel's art gallery. Call the Grand Bohemian Hotel at 828-398-5555 to reserve your space.

Enjoy mixed media art while resting on your sofa

Inspired by this month's featured artist Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson to try your hand at collage? You have two ways to introduce yourself to her art.

She now has her collage process available on DVD. The DVD is a creative overview from start to finish of her paper painting process. Elizabeth covers painting your own collage papers, sketching, underpainting and tips and tricks for collage application. This comprehensive video is 30 minutes, comes in a full sized jewel case and will play in your PC/MAC or TV DVD player.

Elizabeth also has Collage: An Overview to the Creative Process available on Lulu. This book also contains an overview to her figurative collage process, including tips and techniques, supplies list, descriptions and step by step process.

A conversation with Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson: Part 12

What else do you do besides your art?

Besides my art, I am a self employed graphic artist. I spend my days working on layout and design of marketing materials for several clients. I also play the violin with the Maitland Symphony Orchestra, we rehearse once a week and I take violin lessons to help me keep up with the music. I enjoy exercise and I'm currently training for a triathlon and a half marathon. I have a family, my husband and two children, that also keep me busy. I volunteer at our elementary school to bring art to the students every month and I write the lesson plans for this program. I enjoy cooking and I make homemade dinner and breakfast for my family every day.

Lately I have been teaching collage workshops and I have found this to be very fulfilling! I never thought of myself as a teacher, but I enjoy sharing what I love with other artists and aspiring artists.

Picture credit: "Waiting for Rain"

Click here to learn more about this cow art mixed media collage

A conversation with Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson: Part 11

What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

I have a lot of advice for aspiring artists. I tell them to remember that art is a business, and so you cannot neglect the fact that you have to spend a serious amount of time marketing your own work. You have to get OUT of the studio and get in front of your computer and get out in front of people, network. I also stress how important it is to be reliable. You have to deliver the work when you said you would, you have to meet deadlines and bring work that is ready to hang, professional. You have to be reliable and be someone that galleries know they can count on to deliver. You have to be organized, keep a computer program of your inventory, your contacts, your mailing list, your galleries, and your work. Be prepared to sell yourself and your work, be organized and be original.

Picture credit: "How Now, Brown Cow"

Click here to see this piece of cow art as a mixed media collage or on a flash bag tote bag

A conversation with Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson: Part 10

What would you like to do more of in the future?

In the future I'd like to do more portraits. I love doing people and I have gotten away from them for a while now. I have a whole series of swimmers in bathing caps that is really fun and colorful and I like it very much. I'd like to do a self portrait with birthday cards too.

Picture credit: "Two Muse", collage detail

Click here to learn more about this cow mixed media collage

Video of the collage process

Enjoy this time lapse video showing one of Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson's paper painting collages in progress.

Afternoon on the Avenue

A conversation with Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson: Part 8

How does it take you to get the average creation?

My process is multistep. After finding imagery that I am inspired by, I take photos and manipulate them in Photoshop on my computer until I achieve a composition I am happy with. I might take one cow out of a group or combine her/him with another cow from a different photo, add a barn and drastically raise (or lower) the horizon line behind them. Once I get this worked out on my computer, I print a color image and this is my reference. I then sketch onto primed wood panel. After sketching I do a quick acrylic underpainting in order to work out my values and my colors. When the underpainting is dry, I then start collaging my hand-painted and hand-made papers over the top of the acrylic painting. Keep in mind that the hand-painting of the papers also takes time and I create all my own papers in advance of the collaging process. When the collage is complete, I coat it with two layers of acrylic UV protective varnish and then I do my own framing.

The time it takes in the collage process depends on how it's going, some days things are really working for me and it's coming together quickly, other days nothing is working and I end up going over the same area a few times before I am happy with it. Some subject matter is more complex than others. Some subjects I am good at and have worked out the challenges with practice, so I can really do roosters very efficiently, but dogs are more of a challenge since I have only ever done two. Peacocks take a long time because of all the eyes and detail in the tail feathers.

I guess I'd have to say, it varies!

Photo credit: "Song of Sunrise"

Click here to learn more about this rooster art mixed media painting

A conversation with Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson: Part 7

How did you get interested in creating art of cattle?

I grew up in rural New England; we always had cows and roosters and sheep on farms which we would pass driving from one small town to another. When I was a kid, my parents took us to a lot of petting farms in our area. We would go and get a homemade ice cream at a small dairy and visit the cows, or go for pork sausage at a small farm and visit the sheep. I guess this was good family fun when I was a kid, these images give me a sense of warmth and a sense of family even today. My sister was married last summer in Amherst, MA, my family decided to stay at a bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town for the weekend. On the property, they had roosters and chickens and a goat or two, a very nice way for me to give my Orlando kids a taste of my childhood!

Picture credit: "Barnyard Friends"

Click here to learn more about this piece of cow and chicken art

Collage artist wins award

March's featured artist, Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson, has been honored by The Artist's Magazine with a first place award in their mixed media category for their 2009 online competition. Her collage, "Out to Pasture", will be featured in the July/August print edition of the magazine.

Picture credit: "Out to Pasture" reproduced on a flashbag

A conversation with Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson: Part 6

How do you decide what to paint, draw and model?

I like to work in a series of images so that this question is answered for me for a few paintings at a time! I am lucky enough to be represented by several art galleries who will help me with suggestions of images that they feel would sell or would work with a show or theme they are promoting. I also have a big solo show in September at the Maitland Art Center which they have asked me to create pieces related to music. I will be showing 35-40 collages in this exhibition. That's helped me decide what to paint for a while!

Photo credit: Elizabeth enjoying some time with a local boy scout troop

A conversation with Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson: Part 5

Where do you get your inspiration?

I often get my inspiration from my papers. I find a paper that I think looks fuzzy, and I might use it for a sheep. I find a paper that is lumpy and bumpy and turquoise, and I might use it for the crown of a peacock's head. I find a paper that looks like lace, and I might use it for the fringe on a ballet skirt. I hand-paint a paper that is vibrant, textured, golden yellow, and I might use it on a small finch sitting on a branch.

Other times I am inspired by my frame maker. Owen Tomlin makes frames from reclaimed barn wood in Kentucky. I like to paint images that will work with is amazing hand crafted frames, so I might do an entire series on barnyard animals or botannicals because I know they will look great hanging together as a group, all framed in Owen's frames.

Picture credit: Detail of the tail feathers of "Le Coq du Village"

Click here to learn more about this rooster art collage