Meet Collin Allen | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Collin Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Collin, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is a major part of an artists life. I’ve spent decades building the skills to make my work. I did this by going to art school, welding school, and taking jobs in different industries to learn the skills that I needed. My path has been a bit different then a lot of artists. Because I work with recycled materials, a varied set of skills have been needed to achieve my goals. This also comes with risk, materials can be hazardous and understanding what and how to do the right thing is very important. Again this takes a huge investment of time. Personally I spend about two years between solo shows making the art and there are no guarantees of selling any of the art, or that it will be well received by the audience.

These risks and the investment of time isn’t just something that effects me. I’ve been married for 23 years to a wonderful woman, and together we have raised three sons. I have to balance both parts of my life, and one part drives the other part and vice versus. There is a deep believe that you need to have in yourself that what your doing is the right thing and fully commit to it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art has always been built on process. While some know what they are going to paint, or sculpt. I often don’t, it’s not because I don’t have ideas, but more because I let materials guide me in new directions. There are a lot of reasons I use processes to guide my work. The main one is that I am Dyslexic and have ADHD. Many might not understand why I mentioned that, but my brain works differently than most peoples. I can see art in materials, this happens as a automatic assembly. What some call a disability, I see as a wonderful part of myself that is very misunderstood by most people.

Art has always been a huge part of my life and I started making thing when I was very young to the point people got very upset with me about using things that I shouldn’t have used. My parents really did not support much of this and all of us had to deal with major issues at school. I ended up dropping out of school at sixteen because it was all to much, and they couldn’t teach me like I needed. Again my brain works differently then others. It took many years for me to fully understand how I’d been teaching myself and to be able to apply that to going to art school. In the end I graduated with honors and a BFA in Studio Art for Painting. I also received an Associates Degree is Welding and 3D design.

For the last two years I have been working with Eric Fisher, who is a works all over the world as a hair stylist, educator, and as an amazing photographer. He has allowed me access to all of his high fashion photography. I have taken these images and reworked them using different techniques like digital manipulation, projection, photographing, and printing. Once the new edits are finished, They are printed and stretched on 60″X 52″ stretchers and cut. A second set of prints is then woven through the main image and the whole work is re-stretched. This process and all the parts leading to the finished piece were developed by me over five years. While the idea doesn’t sound overly complex, to achieve stable unsupported works it took many years testing materials and working in the studio. This new “Cut and Assembled” series will be released in the spring of 2024 along with a book called “Fierce”.

None of it was easy and it all came with risk. But I have to fully commit myself to who I am and making art is that major part of me that I can’t back away from. The main thing I have learned from my journey is that, people will tell you that you can’t do something, but you don’t need to believe them. Anything can be done!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve never been able to follow plans laid out in front of me or to feel the need to see one thing or another. Life is about experiencing what comes my way. So’ I would most likely back out of the driveway and ask what direction we should go. Spontaneity is something we should all strive towards. Life is a journey, not a race, take some time to walk through Downtown, step in to a coffee shop you’ve never seen. Sit on a bench in the park and allow yourself to take a breath. Go for a drive in a storm and listen to the rain falling on the roof. No matter what you do, you will see something beautiful if your looking.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife Brooke, and my sons Bodie, Case, and Deacan are my biggest supporters. Eric Fisher has also been one a huge supported of my art and has helped push my work in new directions.

Website: https://allenworksart.com/home.html

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allenworks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allenworksart/

Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@allenworksart

Image Credits
Collin Allen Eric Fisher