Creative chaos @ Collage Club
There’s only one rule at Thortify’s Collage Club, and that is, ‘no tidying up’. We believe removing this common barrier to creativity helps people feel more at ease as they explore their creative ideas. We think it’s important for you to be able to relax into creativity without restricting yourself to avoid making a mess. So, regardless of how much cutting, tearing, and peeling of paper occurs, we kindly ask participants not to tidy up. Not even a little bit.
We love nothing more than seeing the crumpled-up proof of people having been lost in creative flow. The shreds of discarded paper, piles of unused materials and the gaps left behind show us that creativity was very much in motion.
An invitation to create, connect and just ‘be’
Collage Club was born from a desire to spread the magic of collage and share the playful joys of this fascinating art form. We’re well aware that the ‘art world’ can feel intimidating at times, and that people face all kinds of barriers in their own lives that make it tricky to find time or space to be creative.
That’s why we design our sessions to be as inviting, pressure-free, and accessible as possible. We provide a wide range of materials: pre-cut elements, cardboard, colour-coordinated snippets, textured paper, and even a carefully stocked box of words and phrases to inspire your work. There’s a huge array of magazines to ponder through and plenty of other resources to pave the way for your artistic whims.
Real moments with real people
My favourite moments from our recent trio of Collage Club sessions? They’re the ones in between, when fingers are rifling through paper, scissors snip through the silence, and someone lets out a little “aha!” as a piece falls into place. There really is something magical about watching people relax into a creative adventure and feel safe to follow where their creativity leads.
I love getting to know the group through our supportive conversations and seeing people make connections with each other. We talk about our lives, share our experiences, and acknowledge the real stuff, with the tough bits too. There’s no room for toxic positivity here. You’re welcome to come along and just quietly enjoy the company if that’s what you need, with no pressure to perform.
Creativity as community care
We are overjoyed to grow our community through creative sessions like ‘Collage Club’ and ‘Freedom to Create’. Making space to connect with others feels fundamentally important to us at Thortify. There is something restorative about creating alongside others, whether in quiet focus or gentle conversation. We truly believe that the very best self-care is creative self-care, which is absolutely an art form best shared.
Goodbye perfectionism, hello play
If you’re curious about giving collage a try, here are some thoughts to get you started:
If you’re new to collage, welcome.
It’s completely okay to not know what you’re doing. In fact, that’s where the magic begins!
Not sure what to make? Start at the beginning. You don’t need to know where you’re headed, so try not to be distracted by ‘the final piece’, or what it might look like.
Start by gathering materials you like. Think about colour, texture and words.
What catches your eye? What makes you smile or pause?
Some great places to source materials: magazines, newspapers, old or damaged books, junk mail, instruction manuals, packaging, greetings cards, old diaries, love-letters from your ex, long-lost treasure maps, and the papery contents of your junk drawer (yes, really).
Once you’ve got a collection together, take a look at your pieces and notice how they interact. Are there lines, corners, edges or colours that go together nicely? Do you prefer contrast or harmony? What happens if you tear, fold, scrunch, or scribble on them? What stands out?
Started a collage and just don’t like it? Cover it with something else! There’s no right or wrong. Try to relax and enjoy the process.
Not ready to glue just yet? Play around with layouts first. Leave your collage out for a few hours (or days!) and revisit it later. Ask yourself what you like about it, what feels off, and what could be added or removed. Repeat as needed, and when it feels right, enjoy sticking it all down. There’s no rush.
Collage Club is more than an art session. It’s a space for self-expression, community, curiosity, and care. Whether you come to chat, to create, or to simply sit in the shared energy of the room, there’s a place for you here. We hope you can join us at one of our creative sessions soon, do keep an eye on our socials for new dates and other ways to join our community. And remember: no tidying up.
Peace and purple Pritt-sticks,
Lauren Thortify
