Angelique Cordier de Croust

Year of birth: 1970
Where do you live: Oude Niedorp, The Netherlands
Your education: Business Economics
Describe your art in three words: Harmony in contradiction
Your discipline: Paper collage
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As a self-taught artist, what challenges did you face when starting, and how did you overcome them?

When starting out as an artist I was feeling uncertain about my skills, struggling to develop a unique style. But one of my biggest obstacles was self-doubt.

Lacking a training means I may miss out valuable feedback and guidance from experienced mentors.

But……I am able to express myself without constrains! I rely on my own instincts and experimentations to develop my skills.  

Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you select and arrange your cut-outs to create a “match made in heaven”?

The process of the collage begins with a spark of inspiration whether it’s an image in a (new) book or seeing an object in my environment.
I start with one centre piece by adding, subtracting and rearranging images that may not seem to fit together at first glance slowly I start to see the relationship between the different images.
By selecting these contrasting or unexpected images I create a visually striking “match made in heaven” that will challenge the viewers expectations and invite them to think creatively. 

All images are cut out of books. If the image is too small or too large, I need to find a different image that is suitable. I don’t copy, enlarge or shrink images.

During the process I always take pictures to document my work-in-progress.
If the images are shifted by some reason (by wind or the touch of my hand) I may forget how it looked like in the first place!

Once I am happy with the collage, it is time for glueing. I must be very careful by taken apart by separating the individual pieces.
This can be challenging because glue dries quickly, making it difficult to place all pieces in the correct position.
So I need to be fast to ensure everything is aligned properly.
It’s also crucial that none of the glue shows underneath the collage. Otherwise excess glue that seeps can ruin my entire collage. 

I start from the center and work my way outwards.
Applying the pieces with adhesive is challenging as they tend to lose their position before they have a chance to set or set on the wrong place.

Do you have a favorite type of book or publication to source images from?

My favorite books to be used are old books on herbs, medical or botanical plants.
Most of them are published in the 1970s and 1980s and contain beautifully illustrated images. I search for these unique books at second-hand stores and flea markets.

How long does it usually take you to complete a collage from start to finish?

Creating a collage from start to finish can take anywhere from a few weeks to even months depending on the size and complexity. It is challenging to work collages with multiple layers and small pieces in a collage.
Using multiple layers requires a great deal of planning, patience and precision. With each additional layer, the risk of distortion and misalignment increases.
Small pieces can be tricky to cut cleanly, making it difficult to achieve a precise and seamless finish. The smaller the piece, the longer and more delicate the cutting process becomes. It’s easy to accidentally cut them too short.

Can you tell us about some of your favorite projects or pieces you’ve created so far?

My favorite collages feature skulls in combination with elements of nature. The themes  are seemingly different but blended together make a unique and thought-provoking collage. The skulls are brought to life by being placed amidst leaves and animals and create a sense of irony and contrast.

What advice would you give to aspiring self-taught artists who are just starting out?

My advice for self-taught artists who are just starting out is to dedicate time to experiment with different mediums and styles. Learn from the work of other artists.
Be patient and persistent in your pursuit of artistic growth, but set yourself realistic goals.