New Orleans-based artist Jaclyn McCabe starts each of her vibrant hand-cut 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 an intuitive life coach and energy healer. 

Jaclyn describes her collages (and the process of creating them) as a place to "put the emotions." Using images from books, magazines, and her own photography, she creates layered compositions that explore intuition, transformation, grief, love, and possibility. The work is inspired by memory, symbolism, music, and everyday life. She hopes anyone who views it sees and feels something wholly unique to them.

When she's not in her studio collaging, you'll find Jaclyn exploring the bayous in her little boat, riding her bike. or taking in live local music.