Today, we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Kaminer.
Rachel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My collage journey started back in my childhood. Growing up, I was obsessed with all things art, but “scrapbooking” (the Y2K version of collaging) was my main pastime.
I’d sit in my room for hours on end, flicking through magazines and filling up notebooks with paper clippings. But when I hit 18 and went to college, I abandoned all of my creative outlets, and collaging fell to the wayside.
It wasn’t until 2020 (8 years later!) that I rediscovered my love for analog collaging. It was mid-pandemic, and at the time, I was living in New Zealand. I was far from home, I hadn’t seen my family in 2+ years, my life was chaotic, and so was the world we were living in.
One day, I was scrolling through Instagram and came across a collage artist on my “for you” page. Something in me lit up, and I immediately went out and bought paper, glue, scissors, and magazines. From this point forward, I began obsessively collaging, and a few months later, I started an Instagram account to share my work with the world. I settled on the name “Mad Moods” to encapsulate my wild spectrum of emotions and the collages that came as a result.
Collaging is a very personal and emotional expression, so publicly sharing my art at the time was a scary step! On the other hand, it opened up a new world of creativity and opportunity for me. I started following other collage artists and was inspired and expanded by the creative community that I was starting to build. Everything really snowballed from this point forward. People started asking to buy my pieces, so I started making prints. This process on its own was such a learning curve! Learning about the different paper and printing styles, how best to scan in my art, teaching myself how to use Photoshop… the list goes on. I began doing commissioned pieces, selling in retail stores, at markets, and on Instagram, and also launched a website.
Since picking up those scissors and glue in 2020, I’ve moved countries and cities multiple times, and collage has been one of the only constants. No matter where I go, collaging follows. It keeps me grounded and rooted and makes me feel alive. Getting into a flow state always brings me back to the present moment. Fast forward to today, I’ve been in San Diego for just over six months and have really immersed myself in the local creative scene. Most weekends, I sell my art at markets, and I recently hosted my first collage workshop (more to come!).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My relationship with collaging constantly ebbs and flows. Sometimes it’s my daily medicine and other times I need to take a step back. Sometimes, I’m hard on myself when I feel disconnected from my art. Recently, I’ve learned to just give myself grace and remember that every time I return to collaging, I’m a new version of myself with a new perspective. This is what has helped my collage style evolve.
Another thing that has definitely been a challenge along the way is the influence of social media. While it’s amazing to have all of this inspiration at my fingertips, and it’s important to share my work with the world, it can be a double-edged sword. In the past, I found myself comparing my work to that of other artists or doubting my artistic capabilities. In the last year or so, I’ve become much more confident with myself as an artist and am way less impacted by social media, but it’s still something I am aware of.
Honestly, the biggest hurdle I’ve faced thus far is right now. Collaging has always been my “side hustle,” but I’ve recently contemplated how to turn it into something bigger. I’ve been getting great traction here in San Diego and have a voice in my head that tells me this is just the beginning. But, as an artist, I am constantly facing friction with monetizing my passion. Right now, collaging feels like this sweet, pure form of expression, and I’m scared of letting that go if I were to pursue it on a larger scale.
Another challenge I’m up against is my lack of space for creating. I make everything by hand at my designated collage space in my bedroom. Having a small space to create is keeping my art small, and one of my goals is to make large mixed-media pieces (potentially for an exhibit/personal show).
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an analog collage artist! All my collages are made by hand using thrifted, vintage, and second-hand magazines and books. Everything is made the old-fashioned way with glue and scissors. I sell both originals and print editions.
Most of my work is inspired by the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and the majority of my imagery is taken from Vintage Playboy, Penthouse, and National Geographic. My collages celebrate the female form alongside Mother Nature. There’s usually an “existential” element like water or the night sky. I’m a very spiritual person, and my collages always reflect where I’m at with my journey in life. As a result, everything I make is very special to me (sometimes, I have difficulty parting ways with originals when I sell them!).
So often, when people come across my work, they assume it’s digital art made using Photoshop. Analog (handmade) collaging is surprisingly niche. I think that is a big point of differentiation for my work. While I respect all forms of creation, there’s something magical about putting hands to paper and breathing new life into old magazines. Once I explain that everything is handmade, people have an entirely different relationship with the piece they are looking at.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Don’t be afraid to reach out to people (this is where social media has really come in handy). I’ve moved to countries and cities multiple times in the last few years and have met some amazing artists, mentors, and collage friends by randomly reaching out on Instagram.
Also, don’t be afraid of rejection. This is something I’m still working on, but I’m pushing myself to be bigger and bolder with whom I reach out, even if I don’t get a response. You never know what message will reach the right person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.madmoodscollages.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mad_moods/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mad_moods_collages
