Ilene Gold

Artist

"So many people have told me that they are learning new skills, or doing things they had put on hold for someday. Someday is now."

Tell us about yourself what you're currently working on.

I create collage artwork made entirely from National Geographic magazines. With the paper as my medium, I am making realistic images. I used to paint with oils, acrylics or watercolors, but now I feel like I am almost painting with paper. It feels like I am solving a puzzle ... there are even hidden words within my artwork.

I just finished a collage called "TV Dinner." It was a nostalgic memory from my childhood of TV dinners. I have been working on this collage on and off for a year, but being quarantined, I decided it needed to be finished. A few weeks ago, I finished "Gazing at the Sunset", which I has also put on hold. But, when I went to Florida in February, I took got some photos of birds, the ocean and even a picture of me holding my hat. Currently, I am working on a large abstract collage that I was thinking of an environmental image. I had done an abstract collage called "Earth, Wind & Fire" last year.

Has your work shifted in response to the pandemic? How?

The biggest shift in my work has been, that I am working harder, with very few distractions. Usually, my collages take about six weeks for me to produce one collage that I am satisfied with. Now, in isolation with my family, I am producing more work.

In your opinion, what is the role that the creative process can play in helping us confront our "new" reality?

When I am immersed in my artwork, it almost become a meditative process and the day goes by very fast. For me, the creative process has shown me and others to believe in ourselves. So many people have told me that they are learning new skills, or doing things they had put on hold for someday. Someday is now.

Ilene Gold is based in Baltimore, MD. See more of her work here.