03 Nov 2011

Jessica Kerbawy

Jessica Kerbawy is an artist from the USA. We stumbled into one of her creations recently and couldn’t get enough of it.

With this work, Jessica took a set of crayons and instead of drawing with them, went at them with a hairdryer. The heat causes the crayons to run, to create a simple, yet beautifully unpredictable piece. 

We spoke to Jessica about why she thinks her work catches the eye.

HUGO Create: Can you tell me a bit about your creative background?

Jessica Kerbawy: When I went to college I opted for a non-artistic degree because I was told there wasn’t a stable future in art. But as all creative minds learn, you cannot be content if you’re not doing what you love. So I changed to a degree in Fine Art and Art History and became an artist.

HC: Did you use crayons as a child? Did this inspire your work with burned crayons?

JK: Of course. It was a staple of my childhood. I think that is one of the reasons why so many people connect with my art. Crayons are a common item for children in so many households, and to see them being used in a new and captivating way is exciting. I’ve made melted crayon art for the better part of three years, but only recently started making it available for purchase. It was the official launch of my freelance graphic design business that led to my success with crayon art. I sold my first piece in May, set up an online shop in July, and everything took off from there! 

HC: This work stems from taking a traditional, old-fashioned tool, and making a totally new creation from it. What inspired this?

JK: My boyfriend and I were thinking of something creative to do. He and I spent five hours arranging each crayon from a 96-count box, then attacked the board with two hair-dryers. It was pure chaos. The piece is such a mess compared to what I create now, but I love seeing where it all began. What kept me making this art is that’s so fascinating, vibrant and unique. You cannot control hot wax. It will do whatever it pleases. Out of nowhere an air bubble will burst causing the wax to splatter across the board, or a small indention will push the drip in a whole new direction and you have to change your whole vision for the piece. It's "controlled random".

HC: Why do you think this work has particularly caught people's imagination?

JK: It's often the simple, ingenious things that cause people to stop and say, "I would have never thought of that." Perhaps it's because the idea is so simple and the material so ordinary that people are drawn to it. And, of course, it's eye-catching. The pigments in the wax pop out so beautifully. It's hard to walk past without taking a second look. Once onlookers realize that the artwork is made of melted crayons, 99% of the time it brings out a smile on their faces. I love that.

HC: As an artist, are you constantly trying to evolve your artistic style?

JK: Absolutely. I am perpetually thinking of ways to innovate this art form. The possibilities are endless, and that's what's so wonderful about this medium. But beyond just the wax artwork, I continue to express myself in other artistic ways. I'm not sure of any artist who would be content to do the same type of artwork day after day. I constantly have other projects going on outside of my crayon art, whether it’s graphic design, sculpture, painting, building, or whatever pops in my head.

HC: What are you currently working on?

JK: I just started planning out something I'm very excited about: furniture that incorporates the crayon art. I will be making desks and coffee tables. I can't wait to break ground on it.