Showing posts with label February Monthly Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label February Monthly Challenge. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
February Monthly Challenge Recap
This month we were treated to a feast of a painting, filled with lush tapestries, a majestic feathered mare, shining armor, adoring maidens tossing rose petals on the path and two crowns. There is so much fantastic imagery to be inspired by in this painting. Let's see what intrigued you the most about this inspiration.
Now it is your turn.... if you have a post about the challenge, feel free to add your link here to be entered to win some fabulous prizes!
Monday, February 29, 2016
February Monthly Challenge Recap
I read a few blogs and posts that indicated that there was a difficulty with this month's inspiration painting. I chose it because it would be a challenge (that is what this is all about!) but also that it provided a wealth of really great aspects to consider.... from the strong geometric pattern of triangles and chevron waves to the details of the way-cool car and the compass rose to the bold colors... I really hoped there would be something for everyone in this inspiration!
I can tell you that I struggled a bit. Mainly because I was trying to teach myself how to do cane work (and that is something that takes many years to master!) and because my first attempts looked amateur at best, I ended up wasting one entire precious day this month with nothing to show but a bunch of really ugly polymer clay somethings (even I am not sure what they were trying to be!). My husband commented that it wasn't a day wasted if I found out what I didn't want to do. Truth.
So I tried again and I came up with a design that not only could I live with but was quickly falling in love with... including rescuing the mass of clay that I started out with on the wrong path and turned into something wickedly cool! I will be exploring this technique more, and although I am behind a bit in the creation for February, I hope my Club members won't mind (since I am all finished with March early!). See if you can spot my new pendants in the slideshow (I only have so much of this cane, so there will only be a very limited number available in my shop soon!).
Let's see what inspired you! Add your link to the InLinkz code below and be entered to win some great prizes!
get the InLinkz code
I can tell you that I struggled a bit. Mainly because I was trying to teach myself how to do cane work (and that is something that takes many years to master!) and because my first attempts looked amateur at best, I ended up wasting one entire precious day this month with nothing to show but a bunch of really ugly polymer clay somethings (even I am not sure what they were trying to be!). My husband commented that it wasn't a day wasted if I found out what I didn't want to do. Truth.
So I tried again and I came up with a design that not only could I live with but was quickly falling in love with... including rescuing the mass of clay that I started out with on the wrong path and turned into something wickedly cool! I will be exploring this technique more, and although I am behind a bit in the creation for February, I hope my Club members won't mind (since I am all finished with March early!). See if you can spot my new pendants in the slideshow (I only have so much of this cane, so there will only be a very limited number available in my shop soon!).
Let's see what inspired you! Add your link to the InLinkz code below and be entered to win some great prizes!
get the InLinkz code
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
February Monthly Challlenge
Vogue Cover
Simultaneous Dress next to the Simultaneous Car
by Sonia Delaunay
Illustrated by George Lepape from January 1925
Simultaneous Dress next to the Simultaneous Car
by Sonia Delaunay
Illustrated by George Lepape from January 1925
About the Art
Orphism is a term originating from 1912 when French poet and art critic Guillaume Appollinaire identified the new style of Cubist painting. Appollinaire was inspired by the work of František Kupka and the Delaunays, who, although channelling the Cubist vision, prioritised colour in their work. Appollinaire felt this use of colour brought movement, light and musical qualities to the artwork and therefore referenced the legendary poet and singer of ancient Greek mythology, Orpheus, when naming the movement.
Simultanism is the strand of Orphism practised by the Delaunays. The name comes from the work of French scientist Michel Eugène Chevreul who identified the phenomenon of ‘simultaneous contrast’, in which colours look different depending on the colours around them. For example, a grey will look lighter on a dark background than it does on a light one. The Delaunays dispensed with form and aimed to created rhythm, motion and depth through overlapping patches of vibrant hues.

Sonia Delaunay (November 14, 1885 – December 5, 1979) was a Ukrainian-born French artist, who spent most of her working life in Paris and, with her husband Robert Delaunay and others, cofounded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colours and geometric shapes. Her work extends to painting, textile design and stage set design. She was the first living female artist to have a retrospective exhibition at the Louvre in 1964, and in 1975 was named an officer of the French Legion of Honor.
Her work in modern design included the concepts of geometric abstraction, the integration of furniture, fabrics, wall coverings, and clothing.
Sarah Ilinitchna Stern was born on 14 November 1885 in Hradyzk, then Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire. At a young age she moved to St. Petersburg, where she was cared for by her mother's brother, Henri Terk. Henri, a successful and affluent Jewish lawyer, and his wife Anna wanted to adopt her but her mother would not allow it. Finally in 1890 she was adopted by the Terks. She assumed the name Sonia Terk and received a privileged upbringing with the Terks. They spent their summers in Finland and traveled widely in Europe introducing Sonia to art museums and galleries. At 18 she attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe. She studied in Germany until 1905 when she decided to move on to Paris.
She came to Paris 1906 to join the emerging avant-garde. She met and married the artist Robert Delaunay, with whom she developed ‘Simultaneism’ – abstract compositions of dynamic contrasting colours and shapes. Her work expressed the energy of modern urban life, celebrating the birth of electric street lighting and the excitement of contemporary ballets and ballrooms.
She artist dedicated her life to experimenting with colour and abstraction, bringing her ideas off the canvas and into the world through tapestry, textiles, mosaic and fashion. Delaunay premiered her first ‘simultaneous dress’ of bright patchwork colours in 1913 and opened a boutique in Madrid in 1918. Her Atelier Simultané in Paris went on to produce radical and progressive designs for scarves, umbrellas, hats, shoes and swimming costumes throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Clients included the Hollywood star Gloria Swanson and the architect Erno Goldfinger, as well department stores like Metz & Co and Liberty. Delaunay’s designs presented her as a progressive woman synonymous with modernity: embroidering poetry onto fabric, turning her apartment into a three-dimensional collage, and creating daring costumes for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.
There are diverse inspirations behind Delaunay’s work, from the highly personal approach to colour which harked back to her childhood in Russia, to the impact of her years in Spain and Portugal. Her inspiration provided by modern technology throughout Delaunay’s career, from the Trans-Siberian Railway to the aeroplane, and from the Eiffel Tower to the electric light bulb. Sonia designed a vast seven-metre murals Motor, Dashboard and Propeller, created for the 1937 International Exposition in Paris.
Following her husband’s death in 1941, Sonia Delaunay’s work took on more formal freedom, including rhythmic compositions in angular forms and harlequin colours, which in turn inspired geometric tapestries, carpets and mosaics. Delaunay continued to experiment with abstraction in the post-war era, just as she had done since its birth in the 1910s, becoming a champion for a new generation of artists and an inspiring figure for creative practitioners to this day.
***Beads strung on a chain, by themselves and beads simply added to wire or cord will not be accepted.***
Please add the tag or title FEB ABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.
ENTRIES for ART BEAD ARTISTS!!
Monthly Challenge Recap
Simultanism is the strand of Orphism practised by the Delaunays. The name comes from the work of French scientist Michel Eugène Chevreul who identified the phenomenon of ‘simultaneous contrast’, in which colours look different depending on the colours around them. For example, a grey will look lighter on a dark background than it does on a light one. The Delaunays dispensed with form and aimed to created rhythm, motion and depth through overlapping patches of vibrant hues.
About the Artist

Sonia Delaunay (November 14, 1885 – December 5, 1979) was a Ukrainian-born French artist, who spent most of her working life in Paris and, with her husband Robert Delaunay and others, cofounded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colours and geometric shapes. Her work extends to painting, textile design and stage set design. She was the first living female artist to have a retrospective exhibition at the Louvre in 1964, and in 1975 was named an officer of the French Legion of Honor.
Her work in modern design included the concepts of geometric abstraction, the integration of furniture, fabrics, wall coverings, and clothing.
Sarah Ilinitchna Stern was born on 14 November 1885 in Hradyzk, then Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire. At a young age she moved to St. Petersburg, where she was cared for by her mother's brother, Henri Terk. Henri, a successful and affluent Jewish lawyer, and his wife Anna wanted to adopt her but her mother would not allow it. Finally in 1890 she was adopted by the Terks. She assumed the name Sonia Terk and received a privileged upbringing with the Terks. They spent their summers in Finland and traveled widely in Europe introducing Sonia to art museums and galleries. At 18 she attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe. She studied in Germany until 1905 when she decided to move on to Paris.
She came to Paris 1906 to join the emerging avant-garde. She met and married the artist Robert Delaunay, with whom she developed ‘Simultaneism’ – abstract compositions of dynamic contrasting colours and shapes. Her work expressed the energy of modern urban life, celebrating the birth of electric street lighting and the excitement of contemporary ballets and ballrooms.
She artist dedicated her life to experimenting with colour and abstraction, bringing her ideas off the canvas and into the world through tapestry, textiles, mosaic and fashion. Delaunay premiered her first ‘simultaneous dress’ of bright patchwork colours in 1913 and opened a boutique in Madrid in 1918. Her Atelier Simultané in Paris went on to produce radical and progressive designs for scarves, umbrellas, hats, shoes and swimming costumes throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Clients included the Hollywood star Gloria Swanson and the architect Erno Goldfinger, as well department stores like Metz & Co and Liberty. Delaunay’s designs presented her as a progressive woman synonymous with modernity: embroidering poetry onto fabric, turning her apartment into a three-dimensional collage, and creating daring costumes for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.
There are diverse inspirations behind Delaunay’s work, from the highly personal approach to colour which harked back to her childhood in Russia, to the impact of her years in Spain and Portugal. Her inspiration provided by modern technology throughout Delaunay’s career, from the Trans-Siberian Railway to the aeroplane, and from the Eiffel Tower to the electric light bulb. Sonia designed a vast seven-metre murals Motor, Dashboard and Propeller, created for the 1937 International Exposition in Paris.
Following her husband’s death in 1941, Sonia Delaunay’s work took on more formal freedom, including rhythmic compositions in angular forms and harlequin colours, which in turn inspired geometric tapestries, carpets and mosaics. Delaunay continued to experiment with abstraction in the post-war era, just as she had done since its birth in the 1910s, becoming a champion for a new generation of artists and an inspiring figure for creative practitioners to this day.
Our Sponsors
Our Sponsors this month are Sasha Crow Designs and Shaterra.
Please visit us tomorrow to see the prizes!
How to enter the Monthly Challenge:
1. You need to have a Pinterest account. Go get one ASAP if you don't have one already. It's easy, fun and inspiring.
2. Email us at absmonthlychallenge@gmail.com to get added to the monthly challenge board.
Subject: Monthly Challenge Board Request
You will be emailed an invite to the board within 48 hours. Accept the invite and you are ready to pin your entries.
3. Two ways to pin your entry to the board.
Pin your photo from the internet (on your blog, Etsy shop, etc.)
Add your photo directly from your computer
Create something using an art bead that fits within our monthly theme. We post the art to be used as your inspiration to create. This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc. The art bead can be created by you or someone else. The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork.
An Art Bead must be used in your piece to qualify for the monthly challenge.
***Beads strung on a chain, by themselves and beads simply added to wire or cord will not be accepted.***
Please add the tag or title FEB ABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.
Deadline is February 29th.
You may upload 2 entries per month.
ENTRIES for ART BEAD ARTISTS!!
• Beads Makers Pinterest Board-Art beads must be created by you and fit the Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge theme. They can be made for the challenge or ones you have made before. 2 entries per month are allowed.
One entry will be picked by the editors each month for a free month of advertising on the Art Bead Scene. Bead entries have to be pinned by the 30th of the month.
Beads only - do not post jewelry on this board. If a post doesn't fit the challenge it will be deleted.
Monthly Challenge Recap
• Please post at least one single shot of your creation on the Pinterest Board. This will be used to make a collage for the Monthly Challenge Gallery. Every creation will be added to the collage, regardless of a blog post. So everyone gets included!
Your entry must be on Pinterest 2 days BEFORE the recap to be included.
• Be sure to share with us the name of the art bead artist in the description of your photo so that if you are selected for the weekly Perfect Pairings on Wednesdays, both you as the designer and the art bead artist can get the credit you both deserve!
• An InLinkz button will be added to the bottom of the Monthly Challenge Recap post. Here you will be able to link up your blog post if you have one. It is no longer necessary to add your blog post URL to the description unless you want to. Be sure to hop around and see all the great inspiration and leave some comment love!
• The Monthly Challenge Recap with Blog Tour will be posted on February 29th.
Monthly Challenge Winners
• One prize winner will be selected at random from all blog posts added to the hop for the Monthly Challenge Recap post. So if you want to be in the pool for the second prize, be sure to use the InLinkz code at the bottom of the post to share your process and inspirations!
• Winners will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on March 1st.
Perfect Pairings :: Designer + Art Bead Artist
• Formerly the Featured Designer of the Week, our new Perfect Pairings will focus on both the jewelry designer and the art bead artist.
• Be sure to point out all the art bead artists in your work in the description of the photo on the Pinterest Board. Links to their website or shop are appreciated. That way we can all find new art beads to love!
• From all the entries during the month, an editor will pick their favorite design to be featured every Wednesday here on ABS, so get those entries in soon.
• From all the entries during the month, an editor will pick their favorite design to be featured every Wednesday here on ABS, so get those entries in soon.
What is an Art Bead?
An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.
***A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.
Beaded beads, stamped metal pendants or wire-wrapped components are not considered art beads for our challenge.***
Saturday, February 28, 2015
February Monthly Recap
The poppies in this painting by Edward Detmold are so luxurious, don't you think? The perfect image to celebrate deep and abiding love in February with an eye toward the approaching spring. (It is coming, right?)
We had a lot of marvelous entries this month focusing the deep color, the poppy form and even the moth/butterflies. Let's see what you created...
We had a lot of marvelous entries this month focusing the deep color, the poppy form and even the moth/butterflies. Let's see what you created...
Just click the picture above to start. Best viewed in full screen mode.
Art Bead Scene - February 2015 by Slidely Slideshow
If that doesn't work, please try this link: http://slide.ly/view/3449165798dd2395e83864ea9921c88e
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Your turn!
Click the InLinz Link-up below to add your blog post to the hop!
Please add your exact URL to the blog hop for the
February 2015 Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge Recap.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
February Monthly Challenge Color Palette
This month's challenge piece comes from Edward Julius Detmold, and I love the reminder that spring is right around the corner, don't you?
This month, you want to focus most of your attention on shades of cream and coral, as those are the most prominent colors in the painting. And there are a lot of shades of coral to work with, too, from pale and toned down, to bolder and more saturated. The creamy parchment background has a little variation, but not too much, and tends to take a more muted, grayish cast than pure, bright cream.
If you're not familiar, coral comes from a mixture of red and orange. In this case, it's definitely more red than orange, and again, the saturation varies depending on the shade. This is good news for you, since you may or may not like coral (until a few years ago, I didn't), so there are some options here to play with if it's not a color you feel totally comfortable using.
Beyond that, we also have shades of green, from olive to sage, and touches of a reddish purple. That red-orange/green/red-purple combination is called a split complementary relationship in color theory, so it's naturally appealing to our eyes. This combination works because it's balanced.
Overall, I'm really drawn in by this month's color palette because we have a variation of values here, from pale to slightly dark. Which means you've got a lot of range to play with. Tell me, how do you feel about it?
Friday, February 28, 2014
February Monthly Challenge Recap
February's challenge painting is bright and modern with a romantic feel in a party atmosphere. The modular planes of color mixed with the subtle house shapes and the obvious roses make this perfect for the month when we declare our love (and suffer from a general lack of color in the northern hemisphere!). These creations were just the thing to beat the winter doldrums.
We are so delighted that you chose to share them with us.
Check out the beautiful art jewelry created from the theme.
We love seeing how you are inspired by the art that we choose, and we love to find new art bead artists. You are what makes the Art Bead Scene a place for celebrating art and beads!
We LOVE each of you!
Your turn!
Click the InLinz Link-up below to add your blog post to the hop!
Please add your exact URL to the blog hop for the
February 2014 Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge Recap.
Friday, February 7, 2014
February 2014 Challenge Color Palette
This month's artwork is all about reds and purples and every shade in between. Rich ruby, brick red, lavender, wisteria purple, rich royal purples, cool blue-purples, magenta pinks - pretty much any shade of red and purple are represented here, from lightest values to darkest darks, so go crazy. Bring in as many of them as you can.
To add more depth, also bring in a few shades of red-orange, a touch of brown, some warm ocher yellows, and light gray beige. All of these can also be found in this month's challenge piece, but use these shades a little more sparingly; they're there, but aren't used in huge amounts.
Same goes for the touches of green I see in the vertical stripes, the abstract stems maybe. I see two shades in particular: a grassy green and more of a teal green. If you do use these, follow the artwork and use only very small touches of them. Keep the majority of your colors as either red or purple. Here's a second palette to help you see those greens:
Your turn: what's your favorite shade of red or purple?
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
February Monthly Challenge
The Rose Garden, 1920
by Paul Klee
Oil on cardboard
19 1/4 x 16 3/4 in. (49 x 42.5 cm)
About the Art
Cubism had a heavy influence on Swiss-born artist and graphic designer Paul Klee, as demonstrated by the flat 2 dimensional planes and geometric shapes in his painting but his ambitions with colour never faltered.
In his painting of The Rose Garden, Klee broke down the scene into well-defined lines and painted with various patches of a single predominant color. Different objects in the picture (such as a church, tower, fish, etc.) were outlined blocks before adding various tones of a single color to create depth and a multi-dimensional picture. The effect is that you see something new each time you look at the picture from a different perspective. The painting looks like a patchwork quilt, but with more dimension.
In his painting of The Rose Garden, Klee broke down the scene into well-defined lines and painted with various patches of a single predominant color. Different objects in the picture (such as a church, tower, fish, etc.) were outlined blocks before adding various tones of a single color to create depth and a multi-dimensional picture. The effect is that you see something new each time you look at the picture from a different perspective. The painting looks like a patchwork quilt, but with more dimension.
About the Artist
'Art does not reproduce the visible but makes visible' Paul Klee
Paul Klee (1879-1940) is one of the 20th century's most influential and much-loved artists. He is best known for his vibrant colour compositions, cosmic metaphors and fantastic landscapes. Much has been made of their inventiveness and of their humour however Klee’s charm as a storyteller conceals a profound exploration of picture-making which produced one of the most original bodies of work realised by a modern artist.
Our Sponsors
Our Sponsors this month are Songbead and Earth Butter Beads.
Please visit us tomorrow to see the prizes!
Monthly Challenge Recap
• Please post at least one single shot of your creation in the Flickr pool. This will be used to make a collage for the Monthly Challenge Gallery. Every creation will be added to the collage, regardless of a blog post. So everyone gets included!
• Be sure to share with us the name of the art bead artist in the description of your photo so that if you are selected for the weekly Perfect Pairings on Mondays, both you as the designer and the art bead artist can get the credit you both deserve!
• An InLinkz button will be added to the bottom of the Monthly Challenge Recap post. Here you will be able to link up your blog post if you have one. It is no longer necessary to add your blog post URL to the description unless you want to. Be sure to hop around and see all the great inspiration and leave some comment love!
• The Monthly Challenge Recap with Blog Tour will be posted on February 28th.
Monthly Challenge Winners
• One prize winner will be selected at random from all pictures posted on the Flickr pool.
• One prize winner will be selected at random from all blog posts added to the hop for the Monthly Challenge Recap post. So if you want to be in the pool for the second prize, be sure to use the InLinkz code at the bottom of the post to share your process and inspirations!
• Winners will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on March 1st.
Perfect Pairings :: Designer + Art Bead Artist
• Formerly the Featured Designer of the Week, our new Perfect Pairings will now focus on both the jewelry designer and the art bead artist. Be sure to point out all the art bead artists in your work in the description of the photo in the Flickr pool. Links to their website or shop are appreciated. That way we can all find new art beads to love!
• From all the entries during the month, an editor will pick their favorite design to be featured every Monday here on ABS, so get those entries in soon.
• Be sure to share with us the name of the art bead artist in the description of your photo so that if you are selected for the weekly Perfect Pairings on Mondays, both you as the designer and the art bead artist can get the credit you both deserve!
• An InLinkz button will be added to the bottom of the Monthly Challenge Recap post. Here you will be able to link up your blog post if you have one. It is no longer necessary to add your blog post URL to the description unless you want to. Be sure to hop around and see all the great inspiration and leave some comment love!
• The Monthly Challenge Recap with Blog Tour will be posted on February 28th.
Monthly Challenge Winners
• One prize winner will be selected at random from all pictures posted on the Flickr pool.
• One prize winner will be selected at random from all blog posts added to the hop for the Monthly Challenge Recap post. So if you want to be in the pool for the second prize, be sure to use the InLinkz code at the bottom of the post to share your process and inspirations!
• Winners will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on March 1st.
Perfect Pairings :: Designer + Art Bead Artist
• Formerly the Featured Designer of the Week, our new Perfect Pairings will now focus on both the jewelry designer and the art bead artist. Be sure to point out all the art bead artists in your work in the description of the photo in the Flickr pool. Links to their website or shop are appreciated. That way we can all find new art beads to love!
• From all the entries during the month, an editor will pick their favorite design to be featured every Monday here on ABS, so get those entries in soon.
How to enter the Monthly Challenge:
1. Create something using an art bead that fits within our monthly theme. We post the art to be used as your inspiration to create. This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc. The art bead can be created by you or someone else. The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork.
An Art Bead must be used in your piece to qualify for the monthly challenge.
***Beads strung on a chain, by themselves and beads simply added to wire or cord will not be accepted.***
2. Upload your photo to our flickr group. Detailed instructions can be found here and click here for a tutorial for sending your picture to the group.
Please add the tag or title FEB ABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.
Deadline is February 28th. Photos are approved by our moderators, if a photo hasn't followed the guidelines it will not be approved. You may upload 2 photos a day.
What is an Art Bead?
An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.
***A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.
Beaded beads, stamped metal pendants or wire-wrapped components are not considered art beads for our challenge.***
p.s. If you have a blog, post your entry and a link to the ABS challenge to spread the beady goodness.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
February Monthly Blog Tour
With spring just around the corner, this vibrant woodblock print by Toshi Yoshida is the perfect welcome to the impending change of seasons. I know that it might feel like winter is never ending especially if you have mounds of snow greeting you like I do. But I am hopeful that the green will return and the blossoms will bloom!
The strong red color in this painting is so dominant that it is hard to see past it, and I am so glad that Miss Emma of Fresh Baked Designs (above) focused on this rich color for her monochromatic look. The beautiful faux cinnabar bracelet connector is such a strong statement piece and is perfect for this inspiration.
Lynda Moseley of SC Diva created a beautifully detailed faux red jade pagoda. I am always in awe of how she can take such a humble medium and transform it into something completely different!
So nice to see you again Miss Natalie! Love the handmade cherry blossom connector and the multi-layered bracelet filled with so many interesting things to keep the eye moving is so pretty! Check out her bracelet at Grubbi Ceramics.We look forward to seeing what you create each month!
Breaking down the elements of this inspiration piece, Miss Michelle of The Cabby Crafter (above) turned color (red), image (cherry blossoms) and feeling (organic) into a beautiful wearable work of art.
I am very impressed with the vision and the execution of the necklace that Miss Julie of Autochthonous Evolved gives us this month. Amazing details abound from the lampwork glass cherry blossom tree to the intricately detailed architectural links. I find that when I have a vision and I sketch it out first I have a better chance of actually making something close to my vision and that is exactly what she did. I love peeking into your creative process!
Weaving a visual haiku with her design, Jill Palumbo (above) tells us such a compelling true story to go along with her highly detailed interpretation of the inspiration painting. Having spent time in Japan had a profound effect on her and her creative process as well. You simply must go and read her post!
Each month we ask you to go on a journey of creativity with our inspiration paintings. The journey is oftentimes more important than the destination. Miss Vera of Designed by Vera tried something new, found the perfect beads in her stash, and even though she wants to keep working on the idea, she chose to share it with us! Thank you for showing us your process and joining in the fun!
I love it when the perfect focal just happens to be in my stash for the monthly challenges, don't you? It seems to validate the fact that I bought it so very long ago, as if it was meant to be. That is what happened for Miss Melissa of Bead Recipes (above). A recent acquisition from a fellow Aussie artist was the perfect bloom for the vibrant red of this woodcut.
The architecture of this month's painting inspiration is so striking. The strong lines and the bold color dominate the scene. Miss Beth and Miss Evie agreed that the shape of a traditional Japanese shrine would be their focus. The enamel focal they created is perfect!
Experimenting with new beads and special patinas, Miss Michelle of Concatenation (above) hit upon a masterful new style of modern beads that works so well with the linear nature of the building in the inspiration. This has a a very modern Japanese flair and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for these new beads!
I love unexpected uses for those things we take for granted. Buttons in particular fascinate me. I have loads of them but none as pretty as the buttons that Miss Angela used for her pretty boho chic earrings.
Karin of Backstory Beads (above) created a bold statement necklace that has a definite Asian flair. I love the strong lines and shapes in this necklace and the colors and layers of elements are so well combined. Beautiful!
We are so glad to see that Miss Donna of Crazy Notions is back at it! She chose to focus on the cherry blossom and made some lovely representations of the blossoms from the painting with layers of color and a patina that evokes a timeless feeling.
Welcome to Miss Nena of Nena's Art & Design (above)! We are so glad that you found us! She was inspired by the warm and fresh palette to create these hip and modern earrings in a sort of ombre effect. Very pretty!
Mary Ellen of Bee Tree by m.e. was a bit stumped by the decidedly warm autumn palette for this month's painting inspiration. But not for long! She focused on the fact that spring is for lovers with a romantic necklace that will guarantee some kisses under the cherry blossoms!
Miss Malin of Beading by Malin de Koning (above) has been creating some amazing beaded beads (I know. I couldn't resist buying some recently!). She put them to good use in this soft and special bracelet with such a flirty feminine feel. I love it!
We are sort of like the Pied Piper around here... we know that you can't help but catch the creativity bug when you see the beautiful artwork that we share for your inspiration! Miss Sharyl of Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections tells us that she just couldn't resist a peek, and then was inspired to create something special that she couldn't even share with us! I am keeping my fingers crossed for her that it will be approved by the Publishing Gods, but in the meantime you can see the other beautiful earrings she created and see some of the other inspiring bead finds she spotted!
Miss Sarajo of SJ Wentling Designs (above) got so inspired this month that she created not one, but two pieces! Using a pretty muted palette and some very beautiful art beads, Sarajo pulled together two stunning looks. So happy that this painting inspired you!
Just Beadey brought together many elements from the challenge painting from the birds to the bold color choices to the architectural details. I love that she added a nod to the Japanese obi sash with an extra little touch to this sweet romantic necklace.
What I find amazing is that The Clayin' Mommy (above) created this incredibly detailed bib necklace.... and then she decided to check the Art Bead Scene inspiration. A perfect match! That is sweet serendipity!
And if you would like to see my bracelet inspired by the inspiration painting called 'First Signs of Spring' I invite you to stop by my blog Treasures Found :: Inspiration is Everywhere.
OOPS! I forgot to include Susan McClelland's beautiful necklace over at M is the Word. I like the mix of textures in this beautiful necklace, from the white gems that hint at the end of winter to the rough river stones that feel very zen-garden to me and the beautiful poppy red of the focal bead on an embellished ribbon beaded chain. Despite being struck by the dreaded ick in her house she managed to create something lovely!
Stay tuned for the March inspiration!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Featured Designer of the Week- Sharyl McMillian-Nelson of Sharyl's Jewelry
Each week the Art Bead Scene features a Designer of the Week. One of our editors picks her favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries. This week's winner is Sharyl McMillian-Nelson
Here's what ABS Editor Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp had to say about this piece:
"As soon as I saw these earrings I felt they represented the chosen artwork perfectly! They have such a wonderful Asian feel to them without being overwhelmingly Asian. Beautiful enameled pieces that reflect the Style that is present in the painting with its colour and filigree. Wonderful!"
Marie is a Canadian jewelry designer and ephemera tile creator living in beautiful Calgary Alberta at the foot of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. You can read more about her work on her Skye Jewels Blog. You can purchase her jewelry in her Skye Jewels Etsy shop and her pendants and a handful of handmade findings in her More Skye Jewels supply shop.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Etsy Inspiration: Sakura Pagoda
Check out these great art beads I found inspired by the February Monthly Challenge!
'Sakura Pagoda: Etsy Inspiration for the February 2013 Art Bead Scene Challenge' by TesoriTrovati
Heijinja by Toshi Yoshida is a beautiful Japanese blockprint for February. From the bright poppy of the pagoda structure to the explosion of soft pink cherry blossoms on the tree, this is a fitting tribute to the coming of spring! www.artbeadscene.com
Treasury tool supported by the dog house
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