This means that while the artist is creating any one of the series, there is a learning and growth process in progress. Also, each individual work stands alone. So in the process of exploration and experimentation, the artist is able to complete a number of works. It has been said that the only real challenge in collage is the decision to settle on any given selection of materials. Even when paper is the only material used in collage, there are hundreds of patterns, styles, colors, textures and luminescence qualities to consider.
Many collage artists collect and categorize materials by color.
This is one of the most expedient ways to organize materials, which can literally overtake the workspace of a creative artist. Clear plastic boxes are great for such storage, allowing the family of colors to be visible instantly, if not the textures and prints held within. Additionally, for artists wanting to create many works of a similar nature, working from a master layout plan is very successful. Many collage artists feel that one important ingredient of their work is the materials they actually create for use. The desire for textures and implied textures is one of the reasons why artists make the additional effort of creating original textured papers.