Jan Campbell Carves Avocado Stones Into Small Characters

Archive feature, first published 2017-11-10.

As Jan Campbell was preparing her avocado for lunch one day, she was amazed by the beauty of its pit. After weeks of considering its potential, Campbell was inspired by its deeply pigmented surface scratch, so she carved away its layers until an amazing piece of art appeared.

Ever since, the Irish artisan has been transforming avocado pits (or 'stones,' as she calls them) into small, intriguingly detailed figurines inspired by Celtic folklore. The miniatures can be displayed as statues, and are meant to give the holder a beautiful sense of companionship and comfort.

The small scale of Jan’s figures is part of their appeal: each one can sit comfortably among the ordinary objects on a shelf.

More info: Avocado Stone Faces, Instagram, Etsy

The small material suggests the character

An avocado stone gives Campbell a rounded starting point for a head or body. Instead of hiding that shape, the tiny figures make it part of their character. A face, a curl or a bent posture can suggest an entire personality, while the material keeps the finished object closely connected to the everyday thing it began as.

A closer look

The first scratch mattered because it revealed colour beneath the surface. That detail connects the initial curiosity to the later carving: Campbell saw a material with possibilities before deciding exactly what the finished character would become.

Links from the 2017 feature: Avocado Stone Faces · Instagram · Etsy

A face with room for a story

Campbell’s miniature characters invite the viewer to imagine more than their small size can show. A carved expression supplies a mood, while the reference to Celtic folklore suggests a world around the figure. Displaying one on a shelf preserves that sense of a small companion without needing a complete scene. The transformation begins with an ordinary lunch ingredient, but the finished piece draws its character from the decisions made during carving.