We'd like to introduce collage artist and papercrafter Felicia Dadak, one of the local makers that we're fortunate enough to work with in the shop!

Felicia grew up in the paper mill-filled town of Lee, Massachusetts, where she also attended college to study English. She spent many years working in the publishing industry, so she's always had a connection to paper a printwork.

Collage art came into her life in a difficult time, while her sister was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She found peace in the meditative process of creating something beautiful, and over the years that has also grown into a way to feel close to her sister. It's also just a source of joy; we all need a way to bring some color to our lives!

Felicia was kind enough to chat with us about her creative process, and the evolution of her art over the years.

"I’ve become more confident in my work and more patient with myself. This comes with experience and age. I don’t put so much pressure on myself anymore, and lately I’ve been working a lot slower. It’s feels good to slow down and work in a methodical and meditative way. In that way, my yoga practice has affected my art practice. I’m not creating high volumes of work, but I think the work is better, as is the experience of making it. So I’m not sure my visual style has changed so much as my working style.

"Some of the pieces that I look back on with fondness are the collages I’ve made for Februllage, which is a month-long art challenge on Instagram where you make a collage for each day of the month based on daily prompts. I’ve made some of my best work for these challenges, and I love seeing everyone around the world all taking part in the same project and celebrating collage."

Felicia takes much of her inspiration from the world around her, both the natural world and snippets of everyday life. Even the process of hunting for materials can provide that creative spark. After almost 20 years of making art, she's amassed quite the collection of magazines, books, photos, postcards, and more. And of course, when she has a specific vision in mind, the internet is the easiest way to find that perfect piece. But she shared that she often visits Somewhere in Time in Reno to see what locally-themed art she can find, and what inspiration will strike.

"One thing I like about Reno is the desert landscape and the sagebrush. I love sagebrush! I love the way it smells after it rains and when it turns yellow in the fall. I made a collage one time inspired by that shade of yellow. The faded colors of the landscape definitely inspire my work, as I’m feeling more drawn lately to a softer color palette and themes like cacti. Other aspects of Reno finding their way into my work are vintage cars, the creativity of Burning Man sculptures, and western life in the form of cowboys/cowgirls. I am a New Englander through and through, so these themes are completely new to me, and they’ve come to represent this chapter of my life out here in the west."

We hope next time you visit the shop you'll take a moment to admire Felicia's art, and the creative vision behind it! We're lucky enough to stock a selection of prints and originals featuring her creative vision, and of course, you can find more of her gorgeous work online.