Art Bead Scene Challenge – November 2017

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Andrew Thornton, Art Bead Scene

The inspiration for this month’s Art Bead Scene challenge is a 1906 oil painting –Crozant, the Bouchardon Mill by Armand Guillaumin.

When I look at inspiration, I often first look at colors. In this painting, the color that presents itself to me first is purple. But the other colors and subject matter reminded me of a polymer clay autumn scene bead by Andrew Thornton. Looking at the inspiration color palette, Andrew’s bead has it (almost) all – brown branches, green leaves, a gorgeous blue background that could be the sheen of the sky at dusk or a body of water turning colder. There is also a pop of bright red, just like in the painting. Perfect.

I chose some dark green manik-manik glass beads that are a real favorite and Czech glass the same blue as in the art bead. The polymer has a subtle sparkle as do the Czech glass facets. I’ve also used some small red white heart beads as spacers to brighten up the look and bring in more pops of red.

There is a slight asymmetrical element to the spacing of the beads, and the necklace is meant to hang asymmetrically as well with the larger art bead a bit up on the side. Also, remember that purple was the color that stood out to me? I didn’t feel that it fit in with my design with beads, but I chose purple waxed linen as the stringing material. Although the color doesn’t show, I know it’s there. I do that often to make a design feel more complete to me.

As soon as I saw it, I knew Andrew Thornton‘s autumn bead was meant for something special. I haven’t made anything for the Art Bead Scene for several months; I’m glad I was so inspired this month.

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ABS July 2017

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Art Bead Scene, Erin Prais-Hintz, Green Girl Studios, Pam Wynn

I haven’t participated in an Art Bead Scene Challenge for quite a while – I think since last year – and I miss it.  Limited creative time and energy get in the way. This month’s challenge art is Tiger in a Tropical Storm by Henri Rousseau.

When I saw the challenge art this month, I had an idea for beads right away, but hadn’t gotten around to doing anything about it. I might not have except for seeing this post by Erin Prais-Hintz about her beads inspired by the art this month. Seeing her beautiful work and the gorgeous color palette again inspired me to get to work!

I had in mind a pendant from Green Girl Studios with a tiger on it and some black and orange striped African glass. I did end up using those, but I was surprised how many other beads I was choosing from without even looking very hard.

I love this polymer piece by Pam Wynn with what appears to be a tiger’s tail amongst the greenery and stormy winds. How perfect is that? I also did use some of those African glass beads, a long African bauxite bead and simple cut stitchtite nuggets.

I was happy to be able to bring in a little more of the bright orange with a plastic donut and some of the darker green with waxed linen. I feel like I’ve captured a little bit of the chaos in the painting with the mixed materials. Visit the Art Bead Scene Pinterest jewelry page and bead page to see more interpretations of this month’s challenge.

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Art Bead Scene Challenge – February

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Art Bead Scene, Artisan Clay, Erin Prais-Hintz, Kristie Ann Roeder, Tesori Trovati

The monthly Art Bead Scene Challenge offers a piece of art for participants to use as inspiration for making an art bead or something that contains an art bead.  The inspiration piece this month is the oil painting The Two Crowns by Sir Frank Dicksee.

The colors in this piece are so rich, and that’s what inspired my piece. I was first drawn to the white of the horse, and I thought I had a white clay and glass pendant by Kristie Ann Roeder of Artisan Clay. When I went to look, it was white and teal, which worked as well!

I also used a rosebud charm by Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati, a gold flower connector, moonstone rondelles and some teal and rose colored Czech glass.  I kept trying to think of a design I liked using gold sari silk because the painting definitely brought that to mind. But they just didn’t work for me, so I used a little piece of it as a photo prop.

I think this necklace looks appropriately opulent (more so in person with the moonstone flash.)  I’m pleased with this necklace, and I love the Art Bead Scene challenges for encouraging me to use and combine materials I otherwise might not.

 

12 Designs of Winter Vacation

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Andrew Thornton, Art Bead Scene, Toni McCarthy

Ok, I’m unlikely to actually make 12 designs, but even posting multiple designs in a week is unusual for me.  During vacation, I have more design time and hope to make and share several pieces.  That reminded me of the Art Bead Scene blog’s 12 Days of Christmas posts, which are proving very fun.  I recently came across jewelry artist Toni McCarthy and absolutely fell in love with her chunky, eclectic style.  I love large beads but often don’t know how to use them. I saw this necklace by McCarthy and had an idea of how to use some with a strand of carnelian nuggets I recently acquired. The bright colors also appealed to me.

My original design, captured here in a quick picture so I could recreate it when I got to the construction stage, was quite heavy. I changed it, even though I thought it perfect, because I know from experience I won’t wear super heavy necklaces.  Here are some of the beads I had to let go.

I desperately tried to include at least one of those two yellow glass beads, but they were just so heavy.  I loved the two dotty discs by Andrew Thornton, and they weren’t heavy, but I had to remove as much as possible to get the colors and weight I needed, and I’d just as soon use those in a way that will show their texture better.

I love the bright blue seed beads between the carnelian as well as the white Mali wedding bead, although neither shows well in this picture.  The melon cut red dyed coral bead almost got cut, but I loved the bright red and the texture helped replace that cute little green plaid bicone in the previous photo.  I replaced my beloved yellow glass with a yellow clay bead to preserve the color without the weight.  I added a small blue paper bead for more texture; it was gifted to me, which makes it extra special.  This large bead design also allowed me to use one of the large, rustic clasps I am also drawn to.

I’ve sketched designs for about half a dozen other necklaces in recent days. I hope to post a couple more of those on this blog before I have to go back to work.

Art Bead Scene Challenge – December 2016

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America Windows, Art Bead Scene, Eden Art Glass, Fanciful Devices, Marc Chagall, Marian Rios, Staci Louise Smith

The Art Bead Scene Blog shares a piece of art for inspiration every month.  The challenge is for participants to make something based on that art that uses an art bead.

This month’s inspiration is America Windows, stained glass panels by Marc Chagall. The panels depict various scenes in vibrant colors against a bright blue background.  What caught my attention in an art bead way is that the pieced nature of this worked looked to me like a crackle treatment.  I immediately though of a couple of tiny crackle connectors I have by Marina Rios of Fanciful Devices.

In considering my design, I originally planned to use the two connectors together.  However, as I got started I decided to just use one to connect a Staci Louise Smith crackle pendant to the rest of the necklace.  I used a couple of different blue Czech glass beads and finished it with some chain.  I like how the chain ties into the metal of the connector and the brown in the pendant.  I also used a blue ball headpin from Eden Art Glass for a nice little pop of blue at the bottom of the pendant.

In the sixth panel of the work, there is “a dynamic swirling form of colors and shapes” that is echoed in the swirl of the pendant.  I’m pleased with all the tiny details that come together in this necklace to make it a very pretty piece.

Please visit the Art Bead Scene Pinterest page to see what other participants make based on this month’s inspiration.

Allegory Gallery Design Challenge Reveal: Autumn Fire

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Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Art Bead Scene, Artisan Clay, Autumn Fire Design Challenge, Erin Siegel, Lorelei Eurto, My Elements, Passion for Paper Beads, Yvonne Irvin-Faus

Today is the reveal for the Allegory Gallery Design Challenge – Autumn Fire edition. Challenge kits are put together by artist Andrew Thornton and consist of a variety of fun beads along with one or more Mystery Components hand made by Andrew.  Here is a picture of the kit.

Look at it!  Such delicious colors, a double strand of chip beads in case I decide to make something long and luxurious, browns, umbers, oranges, yellows!  I love it. And then there is the Mystery Component.

I’ve managed to capture a little bit of the sparkly vibrance of these blowing leaves. It really represents my favorite kind of autumn day.

First up, I made a necklace with some of the strand of chip beads and some of the tubes from the kit. This reveal, I thought I’d try showing one of my sketches with the piece it became.

I didn’t know where to find (or maybe I don’t even have) the multicolor fall toned spacers I was thinking of, but I had these apple green seed beads on my table, so I used those. The seed beads that came with the kit were slightly bigger, plus, I’ll be honest, I love the color, so I’m sort of hoarding them.

I added some great paper beads I got from Passion for Paper Beads on etsy a couple years ago. I like that beads wait around until they find a project that is right for them. Then I added three cool beads from the kit at the back of the necklace just for fun. I’m very pleased with this.

Then I made a couple pairs of earrings.  First with these tabs I loved from the kit and immediately decided to make into earrings. The shape reminds me of Elaine Ray’s beads for some reason.  (She’s retired from bead making now.)

Then I decided to make some earrings with more of the chips and two of the faceted yellow beads which I love! When I was sketching, I had noted wanting to use some pop, like sparkle or color, between the chips. So I used some of the sequins from the kit!

I really think these turned out pretty and fun. I moved on to another necklace. I was inspired by this fiber necklace on Pinterest.  I had a variety of ideas, but decided to use the Mystery Component with a variety of beads from the kit and three vintage plastic discs, a bi-colored old wooden round and a textured yellow ceramic bead by Kristie of Artisan Clay.

Next I decided to make a bracelet with some of the chunky plastic beads.  I am very inspired by Lorelei Eurto’s jewelry, and I was looking at this bracelet in particular. If you visit the blog post it is from, you can see she used a premium mix from Allegory Gallery, similar to the Luxury Blends that are included in challenge kits!

I used three of the juicy orange marbled plastic beads from the kit along with an orange, turquoise and olive bead by Yvonne Irvin-Faus of My Elements on one side.  On the other side, I used beads from the kit, my stash and more goodies from the My Elements shop.

Then I wanted to make something completely different – a bookmark!  I’ve wanted to make one since I saw them on Erin Siegel’s blog. She did a tutorial of the bookmark using art beads on Art Bead Scene.  This was a really fun one.

This was a very, very fun kit and challenge! Thank you William, Andrew and Allegory Gallery! If you’d like to see more creations from this kit, please visit the Allegory Gallery Design Challenge Facebook page to see what other participants made.

Art Bead Scene – November 2016

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Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Art Bead Scene, Claire Maunsell, Heather Powers, Humblebeads, Lee Oscar Lawrie, Miss Fickle Media

The Art Bead Scene blog offers a great monthly challenge.  The editors share a piece of art for inspiration, and participants make something based on it using at least one art bead. The inspiration this month is a metalwork owl above the door to a room at the Library of Congress.  The artist is Lee Oscar Lawrie.

I really enjoy participating in the Art Bead Scene challenges, but I haven’t done so lately.  I’m not sure I would have this time.  Sometimes I’m overwhelmed with ideas and find it difficult to focus, but lucky for me I had help this month in the form of Heather Powers’ Bead Table Wednesday video this week in her Humblebeads VIP Party Facebook page.  It was a great post that talked about a few things including the ABS challenge and the uplifting power of art. I came away inspired as I did from last week’s video. Heather is the creator of Art Bead Scene as well as the artist behind Humblebeads.

I thought, yeah, I have some owls in my stash.  I started one necklace, but I wasn’t feeling it, so I decided to look for some other owl pendants in my stash by Andrew Thornton of Allegory Gallery and Claire Maunsell of StillPointWorks. I came across this wonderful bronze owl coin pendant by Andrew and knew I’d found my art bead for this challenge. Metal and majestic, like the inspiration.

I wanted to add something right above the pendant. After searching around my stash, I decided on this little mood bead. It changes colors, and I like that aspect of it. The necklace will look slightly different at different times.  While I was designing, the bead was mostly green.  Whenever I touched it, blue was the hue.  For some reason when I took the picture, it took on a golden tone like the yellow quartz.  I like that the bronze and the quartz have a bit of a monochromatic look like the inspiration piece.

I love the simple cut, and especially when the stones are drilled so that some are side to side and some are top to bottom.  I think that adds a nice design element.  I was originally going to use one of the marquis cut Montana agate beads above the pendant, but I couldn’t get both strands of the (1-ply!) linen to go through.  However, because I needed a little more length, I got to use two of the beads in the back.  I finished it off with chestnut opal patina hook clasp from Miss Fickle Media.

Please visit the Art Bead Scene Pinterest page to see more creations from the challenge inspiration.

Art Bead Scene – March Challenge

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Art Bead Scene, Erin Prais-Hintz, Green Girl Studios, Simple Truths Sampler Club

The Art Bead Scene blog challenges artists to use an inspiration artwork to make something with an art bead.  The March inspiration is the oil painting “Still Life with Pussy Willows” by Taisia K. Afonina.

I liked this painting immediately.  The colors are beautiful, the subject matter is really happy and comforting to me, and I had an easy time thinking of an art bead to use.  Quite a while ago I got a pussy willow pendant from Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati.  Erin makes a piece every month inspired by the ABS artwork for her Simple Truths Sampler Club.  As a member of the club, I was thrilled that the March piece is a different pussy willow pendant. I love when I can use my art beads and have them too!

I had actually made this pendant into a necklace before, but I found I never wore it, and it was just waiting in my “take it apart” box to be made into something that would get more love.  The challenge was perfect! At first I tried to keep an element that I liked about the first necklace – tiny grey rice pearl dangles that echoed the pussy willows. When I finally stopped holding onto that, I was able to move forward with the necklace, inspired by this painting, the pendant was meant to be.

I used a silver bead with branches and leaves above the pendant.  Before I started looking at beads, I wanted to focus on the silver of the teapot and the blue of the cups (teal or cobalt depending on the device I’m looking at.)  When I was looking at my stash, I started to gravitate toward wood like the stalks of the pussy willow. To me, the scene could be very elegant or shabby chic.  That is left to the mind of the viewer.  I am more comfortable with a slightly more earthy interpretation, so I went with some sandalwood beaded chain, Czech glass knotted on waxed linen, including the teal I liked, and a Green Girl Studios floral clasp.

This is a very comfortable necklace to wear, and I love that this beautiful pendant will be seeing the light of day more often.  Check out what other designers made based on this inspiration painting on the Art Bead Scene Pinterest page.

Art Bead Scene Challenge – January

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Art Bead Scene, Dakota Stones, Lesley Watt, THEA Elements

The inspiration for the Art Bead Scene challenge for January is Landscape with Stars by Henri-Edmond Cross, watercolor over graphite on paper.

I have to admit that I usually participate in the Art Bead Scene challenge when the inspiration piece gives me an almost fully formed idea right away.  I find when I spend a lot of time designing a piece, I end up not really liking it. Although I love this starry sky, the colors didn’t inspire me much.  Then I thought why not try; it is supposed to be a challenge after all.  So looked at my art beads and made five sketches for possible necklaces.

The first sketch on this front page is the one I decided to make with a few changes.  I actually think I’ll make the bottom necklace at some point as well.

I chose this fabulous moon gazing hare pendant by Lesley Watt of THEA Elements. I think it fits well with the night sky in the picture, and I added some stars and iolite dangles to also reference the sky.

I am often loathe to use the strands of gemstones I buy. Many of you know how I feel, but I unclenched and used a strand of citrine I got at a bead show from Dakota Stones last year.

Visit Art Bead Scene on Pinterest to see what jewelry and beads other people have created inspired by the same painting.

Art Bead Scene Challenge – December

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Art Bead Scene, Heather Powers, Humblebeads, Maria Helena Vieira de Silva, Shipwreck Dandy Supply, SueBeads, Susan Kennedy

The inspiration this month for the Art Bead Scene Challenge is “Paris”, a 1951 oil on canvas by Maria Helena Vieira de Silva.

Initially, I thought I had the perfect beads to start my design, grey squares outlined in brown.  As I got out more beads to go with those, I had an experience similar to Heather Powers of Humblebeads.  Looking at a grouping of lampwork beads by Susan Kennedy of SueBeads that I got out, it seemed I had stumbled upon the perfect combination of beads even though I had something else in mind.

At first they were just going to be accent beads, but they called out to be the focal point of what I thought would be a necklace.  I spied some beaded chain from Shipwreck Dandy Supply that has just been waiting for the right project.  I used stamped silver spacers with the lampwork to make dangles from the chain. I thought I’d use a variety of fibers to make the back of the necklace, but as I was thinking about that, it became clear to me that it was a bracelet. I knew I would like the way it hangs better as a bracelet, so clasp added – done!

This bracelet is very fun, and I love the color combination.  Thanks ABS, SueBeads and Shipwreck Dandy Supply!  Have a look at what other jewelry and beads people made inspired by the same painting.