Art is an incredible way to explore, feel, and sort through my emotions and experiences––especially those that don't make sense to me—and my process for creating it is organic and intuitive.
It starts with a found image, often from a book or magazine, and I combine other found images or my own photography to create layered works that reflect the complexities of life. Occasionally, I begin with a clear direction in my mind, but more often the composition reveals itself to me.
Since childhood, song lyrics have been a way for me to connect with and narrate emotions, and they remain a central influence in my art. While creating a composition, I invite a song to find me: I hit shuffle on a playlist and lose myself in the work. Before long, a lyric catches my ear, perfectly capturing the event I'm trying to articulate. From there, the song begins to shape the mood and guide the composition.I refer to my art practice as "following the wonder." It reflects my spiritual practice of listening to the subtle guidance of the universe—like following breadcrumbs left on the path and trusting they'll lead somewhere meaningful.
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 18"x18" Unframed $565
"I'm holdin' on to luck. Holdin' on to light. Holdin' on to the difference in what's wrong and what's right. Holdin' on to the secrets that I hold inside" Song lyrics: Holdin’ On by The Golden Everything
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 21"x15"x.5" Framed $580
Available at Cucuron Gallery
"Life goes in cycles. It’s a merry-go-round. I've been working off that juju from my hometown."Song lyrics: Psychos by Jenny Lewis
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 25.5"x21.5" Framed $880
Available at Cucuron Gallery
"I can't think of a thing that hasn't been shot through with pain. Like a nightingale's song in the dead of the night." Song lyrics: The Returner by Allison Russell
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 21"x21"x.5" Framed $800
Available at Cucuron Gallery
"Give me a heart without the teeth. Give me the glimmers in between. Give me the happiness of hope. Give me a knot without a rope. Give me the loveliness I need. Give me the me inside of me." Song lyrics: Everything Is Everything by The Ballroom Thieves
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 18"x18" Unframed $565
"And I walked off you. And I walked off an old me. Oh me! Oh my! I thought it was a dream, so it seemed." Song Lyrics: Alaska by Maggie Rodgers
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 21"x15"x.5" Framed $580
Available at Cucuron Gallery
"Give a little, get a little, give a little, maybe we could get to know each other. Give a little, get a little, give a little maybe we could learn to love each other." Song lyrics: Give a Little by Maggie Rogers
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 16"x16" Unframed $448
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 12"x18" Unframed $378
"Even if it was a mistake, I can't forget your face. You won’t forget the one, who’s making you shake." Song Lyrics: Shake by The Head and The Heart
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 21"x15"x.5" Framed $580
Available at Cucuron Gallery
"I'm so surprised you want to dance with me now. I was just getting used to living life without you around." Song lyrics: Pink Rabbits by The National
Mixed Media Collage on Paper
"If love, if love is a poison cup, then drink it up. 'Cause a sip, a sip or a spoonful won't do, won't do nothing for you except mess you up." Song lyrics: Poison Cup by M.Ward
Mixed Media Collage on Paper SOLD
Prints Available on Etsy
"Going so fast, every doubt we had is coming undone. And falling behind with everything we left." Song: Two Of Us On The Run by Lucius
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 21"x15"x.5" Framed $580
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"You didn't see me. I was falling apart. I was a television version of a person with a broken heart. I didn’t ask for this pain, it just came over me." Song lyrics: Pink Rabbits by The National
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 12"x18" Unframed $378
"Going so fast, every doubt we had is coming undone. And falling behind with everything we left." Song: Two Of Us On The Run by Lucius
Mixed Media Collage on Paper SOLD
Prints Available on Etsy
"Oh, if you keep reaching out then I'll keep coming back. But if you're gone for good then I'm okay with that. If you leave the light on, then I'll leave the light on." Song lyrics: Light On by Maggie Rogers
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 18"x18" Unframed $565
"There's a star that tells me where I've been, but I don't see it. Because I'm way too hungry for the road and for its secrets It will try to find me shining, in the nights when it's too cold, but then I won't be there no more." Song lyrics: There’s A Girl by Tallest Man On Earth
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 16"x22" Unframed $580
"Had to find some higher ground. Had some fear to get around." Song lyrics: Square One by Tom Petty
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 21"x15"x.5" Framed $580
Available at Cucuron Gallery
"Trying to keep an eye on you like a hurt, lost, and blinded fool, fool." Song lyrics Losing My Religion by R.E.M.
Mixed Media Collage on Paper SOLD
Prints Available on Etsy
"Easy peasy breezy done. What’s the point if it ain’t no fun? I don’t care what anybody thinks. I’m not living for them. I’m living for me." Song lyrics: It’s So Easy by Margo and Mac
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 12"x12" Unframed $252
"I'm wild again, I'm a starchild again. I've come ten million miles, ooh, I'm burning." Song lyric: The Returner by Allison Russell
Mixed Media Collage on Paper SOLD
Prints Available on Etsy
"She's making love in her mind, and she's not even trying." Song lyrics: Making Love by Sir Woman
Mixed Media Collage on Paper
"Told you all my secrets, and you wanted more." Song lyrics: Lavender Girl by Caamp
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 16"x16" Unframed $448
"One more time, one more time, rub your face against my face. Mix our tears, let 'em smear, one last honest exchange." Song lyrics: Highway Blood by John Craigie
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 25"x19"x.5" Framed $860
Available at Cucuron Gallery
This is one of my rare pieces without a song lyric attached. I was inspired to create an image about the process of creating a life of your dreams––from caterpillar to butterfly.
Mixed Media Collage on Paper 21"x15"x.5" Framed $580
"But, you know, you never trusted tomorrow, oh, baby, that's just a problem of mine. Yeah, I've been thrown around by some bad ones, oh, and a good one was a new thing this time." Song lyrics: Tomorrow by Shakey Graves
BEAUTY IS A MINDSET, NOT A WAISTLINE ®
New Orleans based artist Jaclyn McCabe starts each of her vibrant collages the same way. Step one: Observe. She watches closely, listens intently, and lets the piece take her where she needs to go. Sometimes, it's to a place of whimsy and awe-inspiring beauty. Sometimes, it's a place of difficult emotions. It's occasionally both.
That approach makes perfect sense for Jaclyn. After all, observation has been central to every chapter of her life — first as a cultural anthropologist and photojournalist, then as a life coach and an intuitive healer.
Jaclyn describes her collages (and the process of creating them) as a place to "put the emotions." They beautifully blend lyrics by her favorite musical artists and found images from books or magazines. The results are something inspirational — and open to interpretation. She wants anyone who views her art to see and feel something wholly unique to them.
When she's not in her Bywater home studio collaging or coaching, you'll find Jaclyn exploring the bayous in her little boat, riding her bike. or taking in live local music.
You can find Jaclyn's art online at Cucuron Gallery or in person at both Satsuma Dauphine and Maple Street locations in New Orleans.
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