20.6.10

my art, my inspiration

So, I've been promising you lovelies for ages that I would show you my final art piece (which is currently in my college exhibition), but I thought I would first share with you some of my ideas, inspirations and developmental processes behind it, perhaps over a few posts. Please feel free to ask me any questions if you'd like to know more, and I shall reply to them on this post!

I was very inspired by how the assemblage artist, Joseph Cornell, juxtaposed found objects throughout his artwork and how textile artist, Natasha Kerr, incorporated old family photographs into her work, so I went to my local car boot sale hoping to find some old photographs and letters that I could perhaps use in my final piece. Luck was definately on my side, I came home with the most beautiful collection of letters and photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries. It felt rather sad, to see these just dumped in a plastic box, so I shall definately be treasuring them for as long as I can. I'm owning pieces which were so personal to other people many years ago, so I am so happy that some pieces will be given a second life through my artwork. The postcard is my favourite piece I bought, the writing is just so lovely. If you click to enlarge the first image above, you may be able to read what is says, though I shall write it as a comment for those who are having difficulty.

When I was first given my final art brief, I knew that I wanted to create a fine art/textile piece inspired by the Quilts 1700-2010 exhibition at the V&A please do visit if you haven't already!), so I photocopy transferred the postcard onto calico, which I had previously stained with coffee to recreate a wonderful discoloured, aged effect. I attached a rusty button I bought for a penny in my local charity shop, then I handstitched it onto a plain piece of calico. I photocopy transferred many of the other letters and photographs, but this one definately came out the best. It was meant to just be a sample to keep in my sketchbook, but I loved it so much I ended up using it in my final piece. I hope you all understand my work as sometimes I find it rather hard to explain and describe things. Love, Jazzabelle. EDIT: Blogger kept messing up with my picture layout, so I have had to edit the top the pictures together, unfortunately they are a lot smaller - sorry!

13 comments

  1. The postcard reads:

    Dear Dad. We shall be very pleased to see you tomorrow. Come early so that you can have a long day. We have no work tomorrow. Love to Mum & Self.

    Isn't that just so heartwarming? I also think it fits rather perfectly with the fact that it is Father's Day today :')

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  2. This is so lovely, I love old pictures and it seems so sad when they are hidden away. It's so nice that you are using them to make something beautiful.

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  3. This is beautiful! I always look through the boxes of old photos at vintage stores but I never knew what I would do with them... youve inspired me to try to create something really beautiful

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  4. These are gorgeous! What a lovely idea for a project. Thanks for your nice comment, I'm sure one day soon we will meet! Hopefully we won't all be wearing our Rare dresses ha ha. Not worn mine yet but I'm liking it with a denim waistcoat and brogues (I'm not very girly!) x

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  5. joseph cornell! i love him so much. you and me are freaky similar..lovely post :) x

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  6. Jazzabelle, you're oh-so talented! I just adore your work - it's stunning and so beautifully vintage-looking. I can imagine buying something like this to hang up in our living room. Gorgeous. xx

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  7. I's gorgeous! I looove vintage letters, they're fascinating, and that's so wonderful for an art piece. I can't wait to see more!

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  8. This is fantastic! I did something similar connected to Joseph Cornell for my Art A Level! So pretty and nostalgic, I love it! x

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  9. You never cease to amaze me; you're so talented! :)

    xxx Iris

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  10. My oh my, finding a little box of handwritten notes from the past sounds to me very much like a fairytale. What wonderful treasure to put into your artwork.

    x

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  11. This post really captured me. I have been excited to see some of your work for a while.

    Such wonderful and nostalgic themes. I LOVE it.
    You are very talented. And I think everything is very individual to you.
    I can't wait to see some more xxx

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  12. Jospeh Cornell was a massive inspiration for me too when I was about your age. Spooky. My final project of foundation year involved a sort of box thing with compartments collaged all over Cornell-styley. x

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  13. so beautifully imaginative - i hope you get top marks!! ck :) x

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