This self-initiated project came about during a week with no client commissions or business admin to tackle, just a welcome stretch of uninterrupted time to experiment, explore and make something purely for myself.

Much of my work revolves around silhouettes and cut-out shapes, so I wanted to push that visual language further by experimenting with graphic compositions, simplified forms and a more restrained colour palette. I was particularly interested in the contrast between bold areas of flat colour and handmade paper textures, marked with chalk, paint and pencil.

I'm really pleased with the bold, graphic quality of the finished series. Although the work still feels unmistakably collage-like, every shape, texture and asset was created by hand rather than sourced from existing imagery, making the collection entirely original. A few of these artworks have become wall prints exclusively available at East Side Studio London > https://eastsidestudiolondon.co.uk/collections/sian-roper-art-prints

I enjoyed this series so much that I decided to bring it to life through animation. By separating each element into its own layer and building the composition in 3D within After Effects, I was able to create the sweeping diagonal transitions seen in the accompanying film. The movement adds another dimension to the work while preserving the tactile quality of the original collage.