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!