Thought I'd start the ball rolling on this new group!
I am, and always have been, drawn to objects that carry with them a sense of nostalgia or romance. The things I use, or am inspired by in my work already carry a heavy emotional weight to them. In a sense I am merely curating them in a way that recasts forgotten moments in the present, my aim being to create a form of "visual poetry".
The kind of objects I have used in past work include love letters from the 1930s, feminine pieces such as jewellery, trinket boxes and perfume bottles, and practical items such as a vintage typewriter that I form a romantic narrative around.
Right, who's up next?
I find myself randomly inspired by totally different kind of objects: broken toys, plastic botles, circuits, fake teeth or whatever appealing I find in the street or my people gave me knowing that I use discarded stuff to construct my art pieces...
so, that is a begining Chantal
cheers
juan
Mainly photographs: both old and new. There is so much mystery in a found photograph. I can't help but look for a narrative no matter how simple the subject matter.
A little off topic but it's strange to think that soon printed found photographs will be a rarity. I wonder how digital photographic collections will be regarded in the future?
amyseven.com
hi guys, nice to meet you and thanks for joining in!
Juan - loved checking out your "all nylon" collection of works in particular because of how completley different they are to my own. I guess that is one of the things I hoped by starting this group to see how differently people working with found materials both select, interpret and use their materials.
Amy, I liked your "connect" boxed piece a lot and related it to my own work but I think the stand out piece is the "hoodie" collage. Its an especially strong piece - wonderfully disconcerting in its deconstruction and perfectly composed!
I've had the same thought as you regarding printed photographs. I'm especially interested in the inherent "value" of polaroids for this reason - the fct that each one is a truely unique object unlike a digital image. Destroy the polaroid and the captured moment is truely gone.
www.chantalpowell.com
I love finding interesting objects that I can turn into drawing tools. I like to use objects which i can explore their main function whilst simultaneously drawing with it ...
At the moment i'm collecting all types of crochet hooks which i modify by extending the none hook end of the tool into a pen/pencil. this allows me to follow a pattern and make a drawing at the same time... its quite comical to watch the work being created. ..
rachael
www.rachaelelwell.co.uk
Cool! Do you mean you actually crotchet something and whilst following that crotchet pattern let the other end of the tool automatically make its drawing? If so is the piece of crotchet linked to the drawing as a piece of artwork at the end of is it merely the means of producing th edrawing and something to be discarded or used in another unrelated context?
www.chantalpowell.com
yes, i crochet and draw at the same time.
the pattern is the process for making the drawing, sometimes i display the crocheted item along side the drawing and this forms the title, sometimes i show the pattern, and sometimes its just the drawing and the crocheted object goes in my archives , it all depend on the environment i show the work in.
the title of the drawing often takes the name of the stitch or pattern name i have used as crochet stitches tend to have quirky names attached to them... it gives an interesting context the the drawing if the drawing is shown on its own.
i'm working on some knitting needle drawings now as a continuation of this series.
its all so interesting to make and lots and lots of fun!
www.rachaelelwell.co.uk
love it! I've added your blog to my ireader so I can check out the knit pics when they come out!
www.chantalpowell.com
Juan: I like the idea of using discarded found objects. Its a nice idea to 'find' the object a new purpose.
Chantal: I think this is going to be an interesting group - like you said seeing how differently everyone works is pretty inspiring stuff. Thank you for the compliments on the work - your piece 'Fragile' it is really envy-inducingly beautiful
I think the lack of perceived value in a digital image is really interesting. As much as I adore printed photographs I think given time digital images might eventually be seen as more precious than material photographs. They are completely ephemeral and fleeting. When the supportive technology of a photograph outdates (as it quickly does) the image is likely to be lost.
Rachael: I metioned it in the North West group already but I love the ideas you come up with! I like to crochet (though I am proper rubbish at it) so I like seeing it used in such a creative way.
Ok this post is reeeaaally long so thats it for now haha
amyseven.com
ahh thats cool, i'm in the middle of documenting my most recent crochet drawings, so there will be pics of that soon too.
:o)
www.rachaelelwell.co.uk
Gosh, I'm a terrible magpie. Currently working with beads and buttons, broken jewellery, found photographs, old books, paper doilies, knitting patterns... anything shiny or crinkly really.
Not into stringy things though, but never say never.
I've always been inspired by the interiors of squashes and melons. I take a lot of photos of them but I'm not entirely sure if it has a direct effect on my work. To me the inside of a squash or a melon is a secret place - something ordinarily kept from us and the only way we can get to it is to slice into it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ca_newsom/2779944586/?edited=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ca_newsom/2046220199/?edited=1
It seems we are all super inspired. Great!