For awhile, it was one of those potentially regrettable yard sale finds. A jar of matches from the ’70s? Really? Even if it was only $1.00, isn’t that just adding to the clutter?
One night I took the jar from the shelf to show it to a friend. We pulled out packet after packet of matches, most from Denver, but some from as far away as Tokyo.
I felt compelled to draw and paint them. It’s a fun study in design, typography and tiny style. I love the boxed ones especially. I know they’re a collection that I should be preserving, but I take great pleasure in using the matches inside.
Why do we love what we love? I don’t know. I am just happy to be able to love things more because of and through my art.
What fun!! I think I’d love making art out of matchbooks as well. Hard to know – exactly – why we love what we love….but aren’t we the lucky ones who love what we do!
I love matchbox art! A few years ago I made 100 travel shrines and sold them. If you google
journey+juju+travel+shrine
You can see images of them.
We are lucky to love. Thanks for visiting, Marcie!
Love little collections, and I love these sketches of the matchboxes. The typography and art is quite amazing.
Bo,
Me too! Have you seen Lisa Congdon’s book Collections? She photographed her collections. The book comes in a tin. It’s adorable.
Been to Gasho’s! 🙂
Indira,
I love their matchbox. ‘When in New York visit us’ for some reason made me smile.
What a great find! Super way to study calligraphy, etc., Cynthia.
*Jealous* LOL Some where in my Mom’s house is a jar much like that one. Need to find it before she gives it to Honduras…sigh.
AM,
That’s what I thought – an exercise in graphic design in small spaces. One of my biggest challenges is spacing and it’s improved from drawing these.
Ask your mom!
What I love about my art is that my subjects are ordinary objects. Things that are all around us, quietly serving their functions. But when we look closely, we see that a lot of thought and design has gone into those things. I love beauty + functionality.