Paper meets Earth: collage with mineral pigment

In this workshop you will explore how the layered nature of the world around us mirrors the layered nature within ourselves. Through collage and mineral pigment, you will express identity, connection, and the continuous dialogue between human experience and the natural world.

Working on A4 paper, you will begin by creating collages of cuttings from newspapers, magazines and other printed material. Meanwhile, you will grind natural mineral pigments (previously collected by Franka) and make paint from it. In the second phase, the pigments are applied to the collage with brushes and palette knives. The pigments add texture and interact with the collage, looking for balance, tension, and harmony until all elements merge into one coherent whole.

This process invites a mindful search for equilibrium, where paper and earth meet, The workshop challenges you to rethink our connection to nature, being part of a larger, living system, one interconnected whole.

About Franka:

Franka Struys is a Dutch visual artist based in Lisbon. After graduating in Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam and beginning a diplomatic career, she moved to Portugal and studied painting at Ar.Co in 2009. Since 2013, her work has been exhibited in Portugal and the Netherlands, including at ArtRoom Lisbon, Coletivo Amarelo, and in the group exhibition “Corrente De Ar.” She has completed residencies at RAMA and Córtex Frontal, and her works are held in municipal and private collections. Exploring the relationship between humans and nature, Franka transforms experiences from the Portuguese west coast into abstract, intuitive paintings influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Color Field painting, and Japanese aesthetics. Working mainly on unprimed canvas with gestural pour-and-stain techniques, pigments, and natural materials, she invites viewers to slow down, connect with nature, and enter a space of contemplation.

Collage Working Club (CWC) is a weekly open workspace for artists working in the medium of paper. Organised in the format of alternate ‘drop in’ sessions and workshops masterclasses, it has both a regular facilitator, whilst also involving the artist community in the sharing of knowledge and skills. Providing materials, education and connections is the primary aim of CWC, and it will do this through the interdisciplinary art of collage as both an art form and a tool for personal growth.

O Collage Working Club (CWC) é um espaço de trabalho semanal aberto a artistas que trabalham com o suporte papel. Organizado no formato de sessões alternadas e masterclasses, tem um facilitador regular, ao mesmo tempo que envolve a comunidade de artistas na partilha de conhecimentos e competências.Fornecer materiais, educação e ligações é o principal objetivo do CWC, e fá-lo-á através da interdisciplinaridade da colagem como uma forma de arte e uma ferramenta para o crescimento pessoal.

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