Thursday Salute to Originals: Creative Crayoning
It is estimated that the average American uses 730 crayons by the age of 10. We designers in the office who have led rather creative childhoods are all betting that we’ve used at least double that amount! But there is one artist who we’re pretty sure has us all beat with her use of this favored childhood tool, in both quantity and application.
Diem Chau uses crayons to create her fascinating works of art. No, she doesn’t use them as traditional drawing utensils as you may think. Instead, she uses the actual crayon as a medium to sculpt a variety of intricate forms.
Now, sculpting with traditional materials alone – like a block of clay and putty knife, for example – takes precision, finesse, and patience. But the need for those mannerisms is only magnified when using this unconventional material and managing its unique properties: skinny, slippery, and susceptible to cracking. Taking hours to delicately whittle the waxy sculptures, this is no certainly easy process. But Chau’s skill, dexterity, and impeccable attention to detail make these pint sized sculptures look effortless, almost as if this was the original intended purpose of the crayon.
We can certainly appreciate the delicacy and fragility of her craft, so today we give an enthusiastic salute to Diem Chau. Not only for using this childhood staple in an unusual way, but for reminding us of the hidden potential in everyday objects, no matter what their size or typical use!
Knowing that it would probably take us at least 730 crayons just to try and come close to replicating one of Chau’s intricate sculptures, we’ll stick to coloring, and leave this unique craft solely in her hands.