by Lisa Congdon



When I became friends with artist Lisa Solomon five years ago, I also fell in love with her artwork. It’s hard to say what Lisa is most well known for: tanks, robots, targets or doilies, but the use of doilies (both paper and crotchet doilies, along with doily imagery) are a hallmark of her work. Below are photos from two of Lisa’s spectacular doily installations.


I experimented with using doilies in a body of work this past year. Unlike Lisa Solomon, I do not know how to crochet (she actually attempted to teach me, but I lacked the discipline to practice at the time; I am hoping to relearn and practice more at some point in the near future). Instead, collected vintage doilies and used them in an installation I made at the former Paperboat Gallery in Milwaukee




Many artists and craftspeople are drawn to doily imagery. Mati McDonough has used doilies in her work for several years. This elephant made from doilies is one of her most well known pieces.


I found a slew of folks on Etsy who are using doilies in really beautiful ways. Here were some of my favorites:


1. Ellynelly makes these really fantastic doily inspired large-scale wall graphics.

2. I love this sweet Girl with Balloons print by Etsy seller Nice .

3. Who doesn’t love vintage plastic doilies? I love the clocks andfurthermore makes with them.

4. Traceface translates doilies into stunning clean, graphic wall decoration.

5. This Doily Pillow cover by Nuka is so pretty and delicate.

Such wonderful stuff! I could actually write so much more about doilies and their use (or re-use) in art and craft. Perhaps another post sometime down the line?

Have a great week!

lisacongdon.com
lisacongdon.etsy.com