Seeing Double: How One of My Collages Named Itself

Leap and the Net Will Appear
(2025) © Nicole Moore

Leap and the Net Will Appear
2025
Mixed Media Abstract
Realism Collage
8 x 10 inches
Artist Book 2

Trusting the Scissors: The Making of Leap and the Net Will Appear​

More than a year ago, I gave myself a playful challenge for this analogue piece. I decided to use only images from a vintage Mslexia Magazine, leave out all words, and stick to just blue and orange.

Mslexia’s focus on women’s voices has always inspired me as a writer. The magazine’s bold layouts, striking photos, and creative designs felt like the perfect starting point for a new take. 

I wanted to work by hand, enjoying the feel of cutting and arranging each piece. This hands-on process led to surprises and happy accidents that digital collage often misses. Using a Mslexia Magazine image for my collage felt like a way to celebrate its empowering spirit.

The Tension of Two Colours

Limiting my palette became a quiet ritual. Blue and orange are opposites on the colour wheel, and together they brought the page to life with their energy.

Blue stands for calm, reflection, and inner strength. It reminds me of quiet early mornings and thoughtful moments.

Orange, in contrast, is full of boldness and energy. It makes me think of moments when I took risks or stepped outside my comfort zone.

Together, these colours mean a lot to me. Blue keeps me grounded, while orange pushes me forward. They often stand for hope and action, or staying steady during change. Mixing them in this piece helped me explore these ideas in both look and feeling.

The Double-Take

I spotted a Black female figure in a cobalt top and trousers, clutching an orange tassel tied to a sweeping, kite-shaped blue mortarboard. Six clouds drifted through the scene, like passing thoughts or dreams.

Above her, I added two bright orange eyes, watching over her world. Below, a large blue eye grounded the scene, its curve blending into the landscape at her feet.

Only after I finished and stepped back did I see something unexpected.

The whole picture had changed. The round ground under her feet looked like the lid of a giant eye. The clouds, kite shape, and landscape came together to form a strange face. Suddenly, it felt like the artwork was looking at me, not the other way around.

Leap and the Net Will Appear

For me, this piece shows the mix of beauty and fear that comes with trust. The figure holds onto a thread, hanging in a world that seems to watch her.

The net isn’t visible, but her grip and the way she leans into the wind show her faith. She isn't alone; the ground beneath her is part of something bigger.

I only thought of the title after the glue dried. Seeing the future move through a landscape that also looked like a face made me think about how the universe supports us, even when we feel like we are falling.

I called the piece Leap and the Net will appear because making it reminded me of that saying. I started without a plan, ready to cut and paste, and the artwork surprised me by taking shape on its own. 

While working, I thought of artists like Hannah Höch and Romare Bearden, whose creative collages and openness to surprise have always encouraged me to trust the process. 

I also kept in mind the surrealism and bold colours of artists like Matisse, which inspired me to take risks. This piece reminds me that sometimes, the safety net is just a new way of seeing things.

When you view this piece, where do your eyes land first?

Do you spot the woman in blue chasing the wind, or does the face in the landscape draw you in right away?

I invite you to share your first impressions of the collage, or describe any feelings or interpretations that surface as you take it in. Your perspective might reveal something I have missed—a unique response all your own.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear what you notice.

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