I’m not sure where your mind goes when you see the word ‘decoupage’, but for me it’s a flash back to bad arts and crafts projects where gloppy, white glue played the leading role on the canvas. Flash forward and New York City’s John Derian makes me wonder how I ever missed the raw beauty of this cut-and-paste technique.

Vintage images and graphic pattern are rendered works of art under layers of glass. Hand painted borders embrace the charming collages which, though they have little resemblance to student efforts I recall as a child, are made close to home in Derian’s NYC studio.

Paperweights have a near obsession of mine. Here’s a covetable sampling.

Derian debuted his latest creations recently at the New York Gift Show; the booth space has the feel of a mad professor’s den. I loved it.

Large plates and platters can be put to practical use - say sitting on a bathroom sink holding soaps and towels. But I prefer to hang them in a series on the wall; preferably near a window where the sun makes them sparkle. I’ve also found them to be a worthy gift for friends like me who are home obsessed.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Trackback from your own site.