apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Straightaway, we loved the Wall Topo in Aqua No. 5 (8 x 10) pictured above. Check out some detail shots:

src="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/sf/3.4.9%20wall%20topo%205%202.jpg" width="540" height="405" class="mt-image-center" />

The bold aqua color and free form organic shape really caught our eye. The blue-green areas manage to remind us of both water and land formations—conjuring images of lakes or clusters of islands.

The topographic inspiration comes from lakes in Marnie’s home state of Minnesota. Her artist’s statement gives great insight into her inspiration:

“If you’ve ever looked at a map of the state of Minnesota you’ll find it hard to miss the famed 10,000 lakes. They are peppered across the land -- water-filled scars from ancient glaciers. Pristine reminders that this land was once covered in ice a mile thick. They’re named after French voyageurs, early politicians, topographical characteristics, and descriptive translations of the Chippewa language. This is where I grew up, and this is what inspires my work.”

To summarize her process, she begins by cutting the top layer of white or cream cardstock. Occasionally using maps of lakes, she creates “’juts of land’ and “curving ‘bodies of water’” that she then backs with a layer of colored cardstock. She repeats this a number of times with increasingly darker colors until adding the darkest layer to the back.

Marnie has used the same inspiration and similar process in fabric, creating pillow covers with the topographic design. These, the wall topos and other works by Marnie are available at her Etsy store, Crafterall. A one-of-a-kind 8”x10” piece starts at just $15—which works well into our budget!