Latest Iterations: The Coffee Cup Series
For those of you new to Sundays with Stella, collaging is one of my other creative outlets. My first experiments began in 2017, but it wasn’t until the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 that I made the plunge. I love the medium for its forgiving nature and accessibility, but most importantly, it’s one I’ve naturally leaned into as a way to channel my imagination. I owe my gratitude to who inspired me to shift my mindset. She spoke about creativity through the lens of curiosity and that insight was a true a-ha moment! I learned that even when I felt fear, curiosity made it less daunting, and I’ve embraced it ever since.
Curiosity doesn’t ask you to make the full impossible sacrifice. It just asks you every single day what are you a tiny bit interested in right now and would you like to turn your head a quarter of an inch and look at it a little bit more closely and that’s all you have to do. The really interesting artistic life, I think, is the one that is not driven by passion but by the trail of breadcrumbs, bird seeds, and little tiny clues that equal the curiosity-driven life.
The coffee cups left behind at the outdoor cafes in Paris continues to fascinate me. Instead of the plain whites that first caught my eye back in 2022, I was enamored by the different color combinations between the cup and the saucer on this recent trip.
Why the fascination with coffee cups?
I used to drink coffee every day for many years, until the caffeine started giving me heart palpitations and shaky hands. Unfortunately, I had to quit cold turkey. The withdrawal was rough—I was irritable and plagued by a dull headache for over a week. That was 20 years ago. Nowadays, coffee is considered a treat.
Perhaps I miss the daily comforting ritual that came with it. I remember feeling perky after a cup, as it boosted my mood and energy in the mornings. What I do know for sure—I still love the warm waft of a fresh brew.
Let me begin by sharing some reference photos from my last trip to Paris. These are the inspiration behind my latest iteration.
The cups were created using AI, and I built narratives around these random results. I understand the hesitation or even discomfort some may feel toward artificial intelligence—it’s not for everyone. However, I see value in approaching new ideas with curiosity and exploring where they might lead.
Here are a few of my favorites. These pieces are offbeat and whimsical, and I hope they bring you as much joy and inspiration as I experienced while creating them!
As always, let’s meet each other in the comments section below. Let me know if you enjoyed any of the collages I shared with you.
See you all next Sunday!
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The new pieces are wonderful! Just beautiful.
I applaud your bravery in using AI. I don't mind when artists use is as yet another tool for creativity. There are some great creators out there who do it well, and this is also very well used and well executed. I still stay away from it, just don't want to mess with....yet.
As always, a very lovely post with beautiful creativity on display!
¡Maravillosa serie de tazas en tus collages!