
Milk Glass Collage
Analog Collage by Hallie Zmroczek
Eclectic
Retro
Vintage
Narrative Driven
I only use clippings from magazines and books from the 1980s and below and would say most pieces are coming from the 1930-1970s: Life, Look, Nat Geo, The Saturday Evening Post, various Women’s magazines and other one-off odd publications such as the 1950s MALE and hobby books from sewing to birding.
I alternate between using negative space, or a painted background to pull together an idea or to color match a focus point or vibe. Use of modern craft paper elements are kept very minimal.
Because my work is dictated by imagery from other sources, and the time it takes to compose a narrative, hand assemble fragile clippings, and seal each piece, there isn't really an overarching "theme" or cohesive narrative across multiple pieces. Sometimes pieces are sold as a set, sometimes there is a message, other times it’s simply about imaging a unique world that only can exist in this medium. Generally, I like to integrate animals, food, beverage, and other everyday objects on a larger scale than humans to create fantastical worlds. Ads and consumerism played a large part of American society and culture from the 1950s on, and I like to mix and match concepts and products that might not have existed in an earlier time periods, or vice versa. Everything is done by hand, the cutting, the assembly, and the painting. Final sealing is done with multiple coats of mod podge and Krylon Clear-Coat Acrylic finish to ensure longevity.