Featured Artist Debbie Carne

Whimsical and quirky, these unique decal vintage plates by artist Debbie Carne are sure to draw smiles. Enjoy more of her delightful work by visiting her website.

 

 

As a late starter in this wonderful industry, with no training or formal qualifications, I have to pinch myself to check that this second life is really happening.

 

 

I always knew I had a creative streak in me; however, having embarked on a career as a consumer psychologist and being creative with the design of my presentation slides wasn’t quite the fulfillment I longed for.

 

 

On the other hand, while I was ready for a complete change in direction, finding my route to creative expression wasn’t easy.

 

 

It was a short course about ceramic decals that was the trigger I needed to explore the concept of printing quirky imagery onto vintage plates. I’ve always loved the offbeat, unexpected role that art and design can play, and I recognized an opportunity to combine my passion for rummaging in junk shops with creative thinking.

 

 

It is the impact of juxtaposing the traditional with the unexpected that I seek to express in my work, giving a witty, contemporary twist to the classic, decorative plate.

 

 

I source plates throughout the United Kingdom, rescuing those that I love and know I can work with (not any old plate will do!) I typically search for the beauty in an abandoned single plate or pair of plates—anything from an art deco square to a chipped or badly damaged cake plate.

 

 

Using the original design as a frame for my work. I source and manipulate imagery, often creating collage. Sometimes I will integrate my concept into the original design. Other times, the style of the plate will literally be the frame for my work, while the simplicity of the single colour plates take on the role of a blank canvas.

 

 

Whatever I create, each piece is a one of a kind. I may repeat the concept on other plates, but never on those with the same design.

 

 

My creations are inspired by the works of Fornasetti, John Stezaker, Lichtenstein and Magritte among many others, and are often prompted by a personal moment in my life. I love art and design that makes me smile, and was described by one customer as “the secret Banksy of the vintage plate world.” I hope my work makes you smile too.

 

 

One final note—people often ask me how I came up with the name alijoedesigns. Well, there is a story–it actually combines the nickname of my elder son Alex (Ali) and the second name of my younger son, Oliver Joe. Many years ago, on a family walk, the boys were discussing the idea of starting a bakery business and delivering freshly baked croissants to neighbours on a Sunday morning. They were going to call it alijoe’s bakery and had grand plans to put it into practice. Needless to say, teenage life and Sunday morning lie-ins took priority and the bakery business never happened. But the name lives on.

Photography credit: Yeshen Venema

 

Artist Debbie Carne invites you to follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

 

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