BEHIND THE BRUSH: PICNIC SEASON X MAZDEVALLIA

Mazdevallia is the work of artist and jewellery maker Maylin Evanochko. Originally a painter of large scale abstract works, in 2017 she began making jewellery in her Melbourne-based studio from individually handcrafted components, considering each pair of earrings like miniature works of art.

Her particular brand of celebratory quirk is a perfect blend of fun, cheek and fashion, showcasing what's possible with slow-made techniques whilst embracing the beauty of imperfection.

We are thrilled to have teamed up with Mazdevallia to present the Urban Orchard collection of Really Big Picnic Rugs and Really Cool Picnic Baskets; a celebration of colour featuring summer stone-fruit corals, mint julep greens and ripe-fig indigos.

We caught up with Maylin to talk all things art, life and where she found the inspiration behind the Urban Orchard collection.

 

Art has been a lifelong passion for you; how did you come to be both a large-scale abstract artist and a small scale jewellery designer?

I have been passionate about painting and creating things for as long as I can remember. I moved to Melbourne in 2010 to pursue studies in fine art and was mainly in to large-scale abstract painting back then. I've always loved how large paintings that take up your whole field of view can transport you to another place.

However, when I had my son in 2016 a limitation of time and space got me experimenting with materials on a smaller, wearable scale. The idea to create jewellery came from my own desire for unique art-inspired pieces to wear during my pregnancy, mainly to distract people from the fact I'd been wearing the same boring maternity clothes day in and day out!

Mazdevallia started out with a few experimental pieces I made for the pure joy of it in our dining room and has grown from there. It is still such a thrill to see people wearing my creations and I love how jewellery allows people to bring a little bit of art into their everyday lives.

 

At Picnic Season, we are firm believers that art isn't just for walls. Your statement jewellery range of earrings and necklaces showcases mini, vibrant, abstract, wearable works of art. How did you go about approaching the design of something on a larger scale that remained true to your signature smaller-scale style?

Painting has always been my first love and many of my jewellery designs start out as ideas or visual motifs from larger paintings. In each of my collections there is a large scale abstract painting or set of paintings that started it all.

Through these paintings a visual language starts to emerge through colour, shapes and lines and it's these elements that are echoed, amplified and modified in the individual components of my jewellery pieces.

The process is almost circular, where segments of the jewellery designs then start to feature in new paintings I've made. Each part of my practice informs the other.

 

Where did you find the inspiration for the Urban Orchard collection?

In the last place I lived in Melbourne, one of my favourite things to do was to walk the neighbourhood with my son looking at all the fruit trees. There were beautiful figs taking over front yards, peaches overhanging corrugated iron fences and mint springing up in all kinds of unlikely places.

I loved that these trees were so cared for and that so many people had the foresight to plant them for others to enjoy.

Growing up with fruit trees in your neighbourhood is a very special thing and something I wanted to celebrate.

 

What is your favourite thing about Summer time?

There is nothing like picking up the first fuzzy peaches that arrive come summertime. I could easily do fresh peaches and cream for dessert all summer and never tire of it!

 

Shop the range, here.