American artist Jodi Harvey-Brown has found a whole new way to bring the words of books to life.
It all started (rather by accident) in 2012, when Harvey-Brown bought a box of used books at a garage sale. One of the books had been crushed, so she began idly folding the pages to create a figure.
Liking the result so much, she continued, creating larger and more intricate works.
“I have always loved art, and I have always loved to read. Books pull you into a new world, while art lets you see it. It made sense to me that these two mediums should come together. The books that we love to read should be made to come to life. Characters, that we care so much for, should come out of the pages to show us their stories. What we see in our imaginations as we read should be there for the world to see. My book sculptures are my way of making stories come alive,” says Harvey-Brown on her website.
Harvey-Brown initially started by crafting pieces based on her favourite stories, but now largely focuses on commissioned work. Clients tell her their favourite scene from their chosen novel, and together they work out how to mould it into reality.
The artworks don’t just represent characters either. Some of Harvey-Brown’s most recent and challenging creations have featured buildings and landscapes, including the formidable castle of Minas Tirith from The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
Harvey-Brown also recently completed her first comic book commission, Guardians of the Galaxy.
Want one of Harvey-Brown’s pieces for yourself? You can contact her on her website, or over on her Wet Canvas Art Etsy page.