John Derian

John Derian does not technically meet my criteria of interior textiles but I have decided to let him in as he does apply beautiful original illustrations. He uses decoupage with original illustrations and sandwiches them between glass. His products include plates, serving dishes, paperweight and cake stands.

“Decoupage is the art of cutting and gluing paper images to surfaces. John Derian, an avid collector of antique fruit, flower and animal prints, hand-paints borders over centuries-old ledgers and letters. He combines all these elements into charmingly eccentric collages, which are reprinted and pieced together in layers under glass accessories. His ever- expanding collection includes plates, platters, paperweights, coasters, lamps, bowls, bell jars, urns and vases. Collectors around the world prize his designs.The John Derian Company Inc. was established in 1989. John Derian’s designs are handmade in his studio in New York, where he employs a small staff of artists to assist with production.” http://www.johnderian.com/index_decoupage_new.html accessed 13/12/2008

Skeleton

These are a set of hanging plates with an aillustration of back of a skeleton as the subject.

Tree Plate



Owl Paperweight


Bug Cakestand

Bat serving Plate

In answering my question of “what makes it modern” I wanted to include John Derian. I think his inclusion in this study is important because with his work, it is the product that makes his designs modern. Placing these images in glass has made the antique illustrations more accessible and visually available to the user. His use of these original illustrations in products looks perfectly comfortable in major retail chains. He has a new line at Target stores, USA.

Juxtaposition is another factor when considering John Derian’s work. His positioning of bats with trees or layering of bugs does give his illustrations a more modern context.