Edie Collard - A Personal and Reflective Statement
From an early age, my passion for design and craft has been nurtured by my family’s creative influences. My father, an artist, introduced me to graphite and charcoal work, teaching me to appreciate the fine details of landscape and animal subjects, while also instilling in me a love for ambient music. My aunt, a printmaker, ceramicist, and designer, broadened my understanding of materials, encouraging me to create plant pots, mugs, and t-shirts that became cherished gifts for family and friends. These formative experiences shaped my understanding of art as a way of connecting with others through thoughtful making.
Silversmithing, in particular, has captivated me, stemming from family stories about my great-grandfather’s intricate jewellery designs incorporating polished gemstones. This legacy has sparked my fascination with the precision and artistry required in metalwork, inspiring me to explore its technical and aesthetic possibilities.
During seven years of home-schooling alongside my mother, who was pursuing an illustration course, I immersed myself in a variety of creative disciplines including photography, fine art, and textiles. Observing her ideas develop from concept to realisation profoundly shaped my understanding of the creative process. Additionally, workshops with professional artists in ceramic jewellery, fairground signwriting, and furniture making deepened my practical skills, honed my patience, and enhanced my spatial and mechanical thinking.
I am also drawn to the social and cultural significance of art and design. Studying politics has illuminated the ways in which art intersects with history and power, as seen in Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ or Banksy’s provocative street art. Similarly, my English literature course has strengthened my appreciation for narrative art, particularly through Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Dore’s engravings. Whether through the timeless beauty of Michelangelo’s ‘Pieta’ or the revival of traditional techniques by William Morris, I am inspired by the enduring ability of design and craft to evoke meaning, beauty, and connection.
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