Abstract Realism Collage Art: From Commercial Object to Abstract Dreamscape

Shangwe · Abstract Realism Collage Art: From Commercial Object to Abstract Dreamscape

Red at Play (2023) © Nicole Moore

Red at Play
2023
Mixed Media Abstract Realism Collage
8 x 10 inches
Artist Book 1

Layers of Crimson: Finding the Rhythm in Red at Play

This post explores how a commercial image transforms into a contemporary mixed media dreamscape, showing that everyday objects can inspire imaginative artwork.

We are trained to look past the ephemera of daily life. The glossy pages of a magazine, designed to capture our attention for a fleeting second before the page turns, usually end up in the recycling bin. 

But in March 2023, a vibrant commercial fragment stopped me in my tracks. It was an advert for raspberry gin: a striking red bottle standing alongside a condensation-veiled glass, with a precise garnish of green cucumber and floating raspberries.

That one image formed the core of Red at Play. Through this mixed-media abstract realism collage, I dove into the push and pull between polished commercial order and the wild, unpredictable flow of emotion.

Creative Process: Mixing Realism and Abstraction

While making Red at Play, I lifted the image from its commercial world and plunged it into an abstract dreamscape. I wanted the bottle and glass to ground the viewer in something familiar. The surrounding mixed media became a playground for the mind: free, instinctive, and wild. 

Around the sharp realism, I subverted the advert by shaping an abstract landscape, hoping the background would pulse with the energy of a lively room: laughter, clinking glasses, and swirling movement. 

Rather than simply framing the realism, the abstract forms interact with it, holding the fizz and spark of a moment frozen in time, like the fleeting delight of a cocktail.

Curated Cocktails and Intimate Spaces

Speaking of cocktails, it's ironic that I hardly ever drink except on rare occasions, yet I am drawn to the beauty of a well-made cocktail. Cocktail bars charm me more than pubs. 

I vividly remember the closeness of sitting with loved ones at The Seed Library, a quiet Shoreditch bar, on my birthday in October 2025. Soft lighting cocooned us, glasses chimed gently, and the music drifted from jazz to reggae, even playing Police and Thieves by Junior Murvin (1976), whisking me back to the blues parties of the 1960s and 1970s. 

In that moment, nostalgia and belonging mingled with the thrill of celebration. The bartender moved with soft elegance, describing each ingredient with care and layering flavours with gentle artistry. He even scribbled the recipe on a business card for me. It felt as if making the drink was the real celebration.

I was mesmerised by the atmosphere, the bartender's careful stir, and the subtle pleasure as the final garnish landed. These occasions wrap me in comfort and connection, fuelling creativity in surprising ways. Memory, warmth, and belonging often inspire me to create atmosphere and story in my art.

Cocktails evoke celebration and elegance, their forms beckoning us into a world that is both known and tantalisingly distant. For me, cocktails are more than beverages; they are cultural symbols which combine art and ritual beyond what the glass holds. 

Techniques & Materials: Layering the Narrative

My collages always begin with magazine cut-outs, usually garnered from stacks lying around the house. I search for images that ignite something in me and transform them. I become both collector and creator, giving scraps new life by reshaping, remaking, and recycling them. 

Through cutting, tearing, and layering transparent paints, I let the red palette of Red at Play quiver with energy and demand attention. The green of cucumber breathes in freshness and hints at renewal. White offers clarity along with momentary calm, like a fresh canvas or a gentle pause.

Knowing When It's Finished

Collage is both curation and creative destruction. I let shapes and colours lead the way, chasing a perfect balance or a trace of tension. I trust my first instincts, searching for combinations that surprise me or spark a hushed interaction within the piece.

If uncertainty lingers, I set the artwork aside and revisit it later with fresh eyes. If it still feels unresolved, I keep experimenting—shifting shapes or adding layers—until the piece's energy clicks into place. 

A collage feels finished when nothing more is needed, even if small imperfections remain. That quiet sense of completeness signals when to stop.

Reflections

Looking back at Red at Play three years after its creation in 2023, I realise it marks the moment when I stopped overthinking and just let myself play. 

The contrast between the rigid, manufactured lines of the raspberry gin bottle and the fluid, unpredictable nature of the abstract collage and paintwork taught me that balance doesn't mean perfection. 

Sometimes, art is just about capturing a mood and letting the colours throw a party on the canvas. I'm also struck by how much the collage feels like a time capsule—capturing not just a visual experiment, but a moment in my creative life.

Reflecting on Red at Play from 2026, I notice both what has changed and what endures in my artistic process. The interplay between commercial imagery and abstraction still fascinates me, yet the work's meaning has deepened over time.

What once felt like a spontaneous act of transformation now reveals layers of nostalgia, experimentation, and personal symbolism I hadn't fully grasped then.

Revisiting this piece reminds me that art's meanings are never fixed; they evolve with us, gaining new resonance as we move forward. The collage has become not just an object, but a record of the questions, curiosities, and joys that shaped my art practice in 2023.

Collage Tips

If you want to try collage, start by exploring your own magazines, packaging, or old books, which act as treasure troves of surprising images and textures. 

All you really need are some basic supplies: scissors to cut, a glue stick (I use UHU) or tape to attach your pieces, and a flat surface to work on. Tear or cut out shapes that call to you, arrange them loosely before glueing (I take a few snaps), and rely on your instincts.

To start simply, pick one colour that catches your eye. Search your materials for anything in that colour, maybe five pieces, big or small, and arrange them together on your page.

See what kinds of mood or story appear just by placing similar colours side by side. This low-pressure exercise is an easy way in and lets you play with shape, colour, and placement without worrying about the final result.

Once your collage is finished, consider how you might show it off or protect it. You can display your artwork simply by pinning it to a wall, framing it behind glass for protection, or using a clear folder or portfolio to preserve it from dust and bending. 

Seeing your collage in a frame or special spot in your home can make it feel complete and remind you of the creative energy that sparked it.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this piece. If you want to know more about the process or anything else mentioned in this post, feel free to leave a comment below, and I will respond.