Able Parris describes himself as “a hard-working collage artist, designer & lover of type married to photographer Julia Parris.” Parris designs for the marketing company McKinney and is also an active contributor to Field Mic and We Love Typography.

"Blind Towards Beauty" collage by Able Parris

Able Parris has been creating collages since around the age of 23 & prefers to use materials from the 1960′s-90′s, especially images from the 70′s and 80′s; National Geographic magazines, animal illustrations, and any sort of text. As he explained in an interview with Artery Magazine, “I can’t get too old because the 1960’s and prior is too grainy. When you scan and enlarge, it gets distorted but not in a pretty distorted way, it kind of just looks bad because the printing quality wasn’t great, I don’t use newsprint either.”

"The Changing Imagination" collage by Able Parris

"Bravery" collage by Able Parris

In the same interview, Parris shares his thoughts on the collaging process. “Collage is difficult because it’s not like illustration where you can say ‘This needs an octopus so I’ll just draw one in.’ You have to have these things already that work together – or that may not work together at all, but you have to make it look like they were meant to be together and make sense,” he told Artery Magazine.

"Peek-a-Boo Henry" collage by Able Parris

"Cardinal" collage by Able Parris

Able Parris attended Rhode Island College and the Rhode Island School of Design, however was unable to finish (“Why does art school have to cost so much?!“).

"The Future Is Bright" collage by Able Parris

If you’d like to know more about Able Parris,
you might try watching
Canaca: The Fictional Story of Able Parris

For more “factual” information,
we also recommend you read
these interviews with Able Parris
Artery Magazine
NotPaper
Newfangled

"Feeling Faces" collage by Able Parris

Be sure to visit Able Parris‘ online gallery
http://work.ableparris.com/

and follow him on both
Twitter & Tumblr

"Anticipation" collage by Able Parris

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