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Mickey Saverine doesnt think of herself as a crafty person even though she spends her days turning square glass plates into works of art using paper, glue and varnish. Shes a decoupage artist and the owner of Glass Paper Scissors.
Mickey was looking for a new venture after leaving a 30-year career as creative director for top advertising companies, such as Saatchi & Saatchi. She flirted with the idea of working as a consultant but decided it was time to move in another direction. But which one?
The answer came after a visit to a friend in Maine. She said lets do a project,' Mickey says. The friend assembled glass, paper, glue and scissors and announced that they were going to do decoupage. I remember saying how hard can it be?' Mickey says. After all, I went to art school!
Decoupage (from the French decouper to cut out) is the art of decorating an object by gluing pieces of paper onto it. The object is then coated with multiple layers of varnish or lacquer. The history of decoupage reaches back to ancient China. By the 17th century, Oriental lacquered furniture had become so fashionable in Europe that local artisans, particularly in Italy, began copying the technique. During the 18th and 19th centuries, decoupage had become all the rage as a pastime for "gentlewomen."
Saverines first attempt at decoupage was a terrible disaster, but she found herself in the grip of a creative muse. It was as if something had inhabited me, she says. It took her nine months to learn how to create her signature plates, using antique botanical prints (not the originals, of course!) and a coordinating paper border. Each plate, decorated and finished entirely by hand, takes four days to complete.
Decoupage plates can be used as artwork, both framed and unframed. And they make perfect hors doeuvres or cookie platters. Youll find Mickeys creations online at Glass Paper Scissors. To see the plates in person, take a trip to Darien Art & Frame in Darien, Conn.
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