ABS January Challenge

Tags

ABS January Challenge, Art Bead Scene, Diane Hawkey, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Genea, Imagine Tomorrow's World (orange version), paper beads

The Art Bead Scene January Challenge inspiration art was immediately exciting to me. A jumble of bright colors, Imagine Tomorrow’s World (orange version) by Friedensreich Hundertwasser is a wonderful work.

friedensreich-hundertwasser-imagine-tomorrows-world-orange

Copyrighted artwork – shown only as inspiration

I thought making something would be easy as the the inspiration pieces I love on sight often present an idea right away. I did think immediately of beads I have in the bull’s-eye pattern as well as orange beads. Although the poster is busy, my first attempts had too much going on to work. I tried several different construction methods, including Irish waxed linen. I liked that idea the best (in theory) because I chose black linen and it would surround the colorful beads like the black border surrounds the picture. Alas, it did not work out.

I decided I needed to simplify, and the art beads I ultimately chose are by Diane Hawkey and Genea. I focused on the colors purple, orange and turquoise and the bull’s-eye design. I did manage to work in a tiny piece of the black linen to dangle Genea’s lampwork beads from Diane Hawkey’s connector.

I also used purple glass beads with small vintage turquoise beads as spacers and sections of tiny faceted gemstones in orange and purple. I kept trying to work more art beads into the front of the piece, but the necklace was not interested. So I used some orange textured tube beads that remind me of the lined orange columns. I still feel like the piece is a little busy, but not in a way that takes away from the things I wanted to focus on.

The very first beads I thought of when I saw the inspiration piece were some paper beads my Mom gave me. Aren’t they perfect? When I read more about the inspiration piece, I really wanted to include these recycled paper beads because the poster was for a conservation organization to raise money for their environmental projects.

I did manage to keep one of these as part of the clasp in the back. I was so pleased to be able to use one, bring a little interest to the back of the necklace, and continue the bull’s-eye motif.