Jill Brown - Multi Media Artist
Photography Through Surfaces and Materials
Landscape to Lampshades
Always exploring and experimenting how I could translate my photographic images to various surfaces, the lampshade project has occurred by way of a happy accident. There is so much inspiration around me, whether urban or rural so the ideas and interpretation are fun but knowing when to stop is the challenge!
The images are printed on bleached panama cotton in Staffordshire and then each shade is hand made by myself.
All shades to date are drum shaped of 30cm diameter x 21cm height, which are all suitable as table bases or ceiling pendants.
Each shade is £65 excluding any postage. A selection of current shades can be seen at The Farfield Mill, Sedbergh (Home - Farfield Mill) in the Yorkshire Dales or the Silk Museum in Macclesfield (www.thesilkmuseum.co.uk).
The Courtyard Gallery in Appleby (Courtyard Gallery | Appleby | Facebook
The Smardale Railway merchandise is available from The Hub also in Appleby (www.theedenworkshop.co.uk)
Bespoke commissions are welcome too, or to purchase please contact me direct (jillbrownart@btinternet.com).
An online shop/ platform is under construction.
The photos below highlight my initial inspiration and how the finish product develops.
NEW DESIGNS ADDED
Dave's Shed: I was admiring an old dutch style barn & the owner ( David) introduced himself & said whilst I was in the village why didn't I photograph it. I'm amazed at the colours & textures .
NEW DESIGNS ADDED
Barca: I'm becoming a bit obsessed with graffiti & my old haunts in Manchester. This title is the name of a nice bar down by the canal .
NEW DESIGNS ADDED
Granny's Door: I didn't realise the mother-in-laws garage could be so exciting- that peeling paint is a delight!.
NEW DESIGNS ADDED
Mash Up: Quite simply that is the best description & inspiration- lots of things. People now talk about a band album cover?
Blue Window: The blue painted window in the rural farmyard was a bright addition to a cold snowy day
Graffiti: I love Manchester & a trip through historic Castlefield did not disappoint. Inspiration from a metal stantion
Friday Night Wine: During lockdown my end of week wine caught the reflection of my placemats & the colours merged or was that just the wine?
The Silk Museum: As part of my volunteer role at the museum we have recently curated an exhibition on the People of Paradise Mill. I focused on Fred Cope, the Head Designer & chose my images from the mill which told of the silk process, from point design to punch card, to the looms & company letterhead where Fred worked all of his life.
Rusty Shed: This old shed offered brilliant lines and textures and it was a challenge to stop photographing. Lots of potential ideas.
Candy Stripe: You can't beat rust on a skip. These marks were harsh. I wasn't sure of the design at first but love the vibrancy when made up
Smardale Gill Railway: As part of my final degree project I became fascinated by a redundant railway line. Telling a story through translucent voiles, I added a lampshade to bring all the strands together utilising my photos and archival newspaper text from 1860-1900. Other merchandise has also been created from this Smardale Project. Costs below.
Lampshades £65 each & bobbin base £85 each or combined £140
Tea towels £12.50
9cm coasters with hard back £15 for 4
9oz china mug £12.50
Grey Roof: The builder's shed always an inspiration, in shape, texture & colour.
Frosty Wall: You can't deny the beauty of a limestone wall even prettier with snow . Lots of people are seeing different images in this design. I can see eye lashes others see trees!
Rust: I walk past this miner's shed so many times during the seasons & the detritus from the industry is just strewn about the landscape
Green Door: The old garage which had the Morris car above was a treasure trove of peeling wood and metal.
Peeling Paint: The inspiration was the peeling paint on a barn door in Cumbria spotted after we came off the fell from a walk.
Disco: One of my early designs & a favourite so reluctant to sell. Back at the skip but ended up as a party piece
Seville Tiles: Obsessed with the abundance of tiles throughout Seville- there had to be a lampshade in there!
Morris Car: This car has been abandoned for over 20 years at a rural garage- it's slowly rotting away. It's a vintage model to be recorded.
Decayed Leaf: There is something really delicate about leaves as they decay. The challenge was to capture this
Corrugated Roof: I've always loved this builders shed because of its shape & design. One day when I drive past I worry it will be gone
Holiday: What to do with the holiday pictures? This is a combo of Greece, Croatia, Berlin & Mallorca & hangs in my son's student room in Bristol
