Many of us find books magical, but artist Su Blackwell has discovered a way to bring that enchantment to life. Blackwell is a UK based artist who creates landscapes, scenes, and sculptures from second hand books. (Though she does promise that she always reads the books before using them to make her creations!) Many of the images here come from her series “Dwelling”, which is inspired by folk stories and includes illuminated aspects.
Blackwell describes her art by saying,
“I often work within the realm of fairy-tales and folk-lore. I began making a series of book-sculpture, cutting-out images from old books to create three-dimensional diorama’s, and displaying them inside wooden boxes”.
“For the cut-out illustrations, I tend to lean towards young-girl characters, placing them in haunting, fragile settings, expressing the vulnerability of childhood, while also conveying a sense of childhood anxiety and wonder. There is a quiet melancholy in the work, depicted in the material used, and choice of subtle colour.”
I think she succeeds in capturing that mixture of tension and beauty that fills books. If you find Blackwell’s art intriguing, I encourage you to visit her website at www.sublackwell.co.uk. She has some lovely works, and exploring them is a treat! (They also vaguely remind me of making book dioramas as a child. Did anyone else have to do that? Mine never turned out quite right, but seeing Blackwell’s designs more than makes up for my artistic lacking.)
Image Attribution: All images created by Su Blackwell and taken from http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/
This is brilliant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aren’t they lovely? I’m jealous of her talent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s amazing. I would love to see this exhibit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! I wish I lived closer as well.
LikeLike
Beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They really are lovely!
LikeLike
Cool stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s amazing what people can create.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that’s so amazing 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
They really are great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my God, do you realize what this person has done? She’s made the opening of Reading Rainbow! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt7pIN3mFe8
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! It seems she has. Now all she has to do is figure out a way to make them move.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that is a very talented artist. Beautiful work! Thanks for bringing it to our attention. 🙂
–Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad other people are enjoying her work! It is a shame when talented folks are not recognized.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on The Vanishing Writer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautiful and fanciful. Thanks for sharing this brilliant work 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure! They are so wonderful that I couldn’t help but share them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are beautiful works. Such detail. What a talented artist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They really are lovely. I hope she gets the recognition she deserves.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Still Another Writer's Blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Kate McClelland and commented:
They’re so beautiful
LikeLiked by 1 person
They really are lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to see this artist’s wonderful work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She really is wonderful. It is extraordinary the types of art that different people can create.
LikeLike