Author: Maru Saurer

Playing with mixed media

Image | | Maru Saurer

Last week’s post inspired me to think about the time spent, studying for my BA in Visual Communication (graphic design) at the innovative Edinburgh College of Art. This set of stamps that l designed as part of an ECA brief, reminds me just how much fun it is to play around with mixed media.

We were able to choose our own subject matter for the “Celebrating the Millennium” four stamp project, and l chose to explore the history of writing. Happily for me, how humanity communicated via drawings, and the written word, opened up a plethora of technique.

The beginning of my journey found me screen-printing hieroglyphs onto linen. l was then most fortunate to commission a calligraphy talent (called David Nash), to take the words from the well-known ‘Canterbury Tales’ by Geoffery Chaucer, who in turn gave them a flourishing twist. l lovingly recall how exciting it was to receive the hand-written piece in the post, which l then later sealed with a dash of candle-wax.

Next port of call, was the much-beloved traditional Letter-press. This was lots of fun, and the final result achieved, was worth the challenge of setting the type by hand!

With the final stamp, it appeared natural to complete the circle. And so by hand-cutting a hieroglyph from tissue paper, which was then layered onto a lino print of blue colour, l then scanned the graphic piece onto my computer to finally implement the “futuristic” based typefaces. It was integral at this point to mix the media as part of the story-telling.

Looking back on this piece of work, l realise once again, how precious it is to nurture traditional techniques, and yet l feel re-juvenated with the realisation, that the past and future can go hand-hand rather beautifully!

Celebrating the delights of Edinburgh

Image | | Maru Saurer

This vivid ‘Edinburgh Skyline’ screen-print by illustrator Kate McLelland joyously takes me back to my halcyon student days spent at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). l was thrilled to discover that Kate is now studying for her MA in Illustration at this innovative college. l’m truly delighted to have a fellow ECA student join me on Looking Glass!

The rich and opaque colour tones of green and orange capture the magical charm of this vibrant Scottish capital, and l adore the simplistic forms of the famous landmarks, such as Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill. l can almost hear the playing of the bagpipes, as l view this captivating scene.

l find the style of Kate McLelland’s illustration work bold in shape and colour, which speaks to me in a beautiful contemporary, yet elegant manner. Creating simple clean lines while still retaining an eye for detail.

Beloved Edinburgh, with its nooks and crannies, is a treasured memory, and has become a well of creativity that l will lovingly continue to draw inspiration from.

Artful archaeological artefacts

| Maru Saurer

With reverence for archaeology, the excitement of discovering Magie Hollingworth’s recycled paper sculptural work is an absolute delight!

Inspired by primitive artefacts, archaeology and nature, Magie Hollingworth takes everyday common tools, strips them down, relieves each one of its dutiful function, re-shapes them into decorative pieces, and celebrates their importance to which can now be grandly admired from afar.

l find the spoon installation with it’s nostalgic images, beautiful and heart-warming, a celebration of a by-gone era. And yet like most unearthed artefacts, the messages conveyed, does and will continue to hold relevance to our everyday lives.

Magie Hollingworth’s work certainly generates an inspiring and creative approach to looking at artefacts!

Postcards that come to life

| Maru Saurer

Can you imagine how thrilling it would be to open your postbox, and find one these creative postcards amongst your mail! Created by Anne Paso – founder of Finnish design company Lovi Oy, these interactive pieces of joy, give a refreshing spin to the traditional postcard.

All decorations (in the playful form of hearts, pigs, birds and rabbits) are packaged, complete with string, pre-cut pieces and a set of instructions.

In addition to the quirky and innovative designs, all Lovi products – mainly made of high quality birch ply-wood, are ethically and ecologically sustainable.

On a final environmental note, Lovi have also created a range of ‘easy to care’ trees, (as part of a planting campaign), to which you can hang your decorations, or simply perch a Lovi bird, to welcome in Spring!

Paper theatre at play

Image | | Maru Saurer

lt was simply love at first sight when l came across Elly MacKay’s paper theatre creations. Elly’s Paper Theatre Portfolio exhibits a rich plethora of 3-D visuals, enticing the imagination to overflow with story-telling imagery that leads one into enchanting worlds of make-believe.

l was particularly captivated by the piece (shown here) titled ‘Shadow-Play’. l adore the vintage illustration combined with the shadow technique.

The other element of the creations that l also find most endearing, are the words that Elly often writes to compliment her images.

eg.”Harvesting the Weather – She collected all types of weather, though she kept the autumn winds in a preferred spot in the top drawer of her collection cabinet”. How charming is this!

With much jubilation, l cordially invite you to take your seat at the Paper Theatre!

Room with a unique view

| Maru Saurer

As a graphic designer who values and appreciates the beauty of white space, l find this project called “Edition Unikat II” created by sculptor Simon Schubert utterly mesmerizing! The intricate folding, and creasing of lines to re-construct the grand interior of a villa (in the style of the Arts Foundation “Villa de bank” in Enschede, Netherlands), magically transforms the humble piece of paper into a visual joy to behold!

Creating a tranquil setting, which soothes the mind, l simply wish to gently make my way up the staircase, and continue my walk…

© Simon Schubert

A shining light

Image | | Maru Saurer

During these early sun-setting winter days, l believe light can have a positive effect on our well-being. These paper-cut lighting designs created by Hannah Nunn surely generate a warm and welcoming ambiance.

Largely inspired by the botanical world, Hannah creates light in many shapes and sizes – from the classical table lamp, to the whimsical floating fairy light.

In 2005, Hannah set up her own light and craft boutique called Radiance, a treasure haven for all things bright, beautiful and unusual.

l warmly invite you to not switch your main light on until Spring, and immerse yourself under the enchanting glow of these lighting creations!

Nature reflected in paper

| Maru Saurer

l hold a firm belief that creative inspiration can be found while enjoying a stroll through our natural habitat. The hand crafted collages and sculptors by Helen Musselwhite charmingly capture wildlife and their surroundings in the form of colourful bold paper shapes and strong graphic lines.

Inspired by folk and ethnic art, Helen Musselwhite truly has an individual style of working with paper. Each piece skillfully reflects the hand cutting, folding and scoring techniques, used on an extensive range of papers, which are often further developed to create muli-layers with textured and patterned surfaces. Generating a 3-dimensional fairytale like glimpse into the natural world.

The piece shown here is called “Number Tree”. As a graphic designer, l like the idea of combining images with typography, and l simply adore the wide-eyed colourful owls!

A splash of Helen Musselwhite’s colourful wildife art is surely a bright light shining, during these snow-laden winter days!

A new look at the world

| Maru Saurer

The beginning of a new year tends to inspire me to start mapping out my travels plans for the year ahead. Yoko Yasunishi and Yusuke Hayashi from Drill Design have certainly put a new spin on how to look at the world in the form of Geografia! These 3D paper delights invite you to experience the world’s structure from a sectional point of view.

l like the tactile teaching aspect that these globes create, as they sit at a 23.4 degree angle, when placed alone, reflecting the exact tilt of the earth’s axis.

Naturally, l simply had to smile, when l discovered that you can also choose to leave the exterior blank, or in my case, excitedly colour in the countries of the world. Learning by playing!