Clearly Layered

October 5, 2016

ikandi-lattice-laceThe really cool thing about translucent canes is that whatever is set behind them shows through, allowing for all kinds of possibilities with imagery and depth. The cellular cane conversation started Monday now turns to how to apply translucent canes created more for textural application than for the images embedded inside.

Ivy Niles has got this particular idea down as can be seen here in what she calls a translucent lattice lace cane. Adding the mostly opaque flower patterns into the mix allows for the canes to add their own variation in layering to whatever they are applied to so the flowers sit ‘up’ on the surface while the translucent squares frame small sections of the layer beneath. The cane slices from this could be set corner to corner for a regular and consistent pattern or, due to the outer translucent edges, can be blended seamlessly into other patterns or can be applied as accent textures on corners or edges.

Ivy has several examples of how to apply this particular cane on the listing for it on Etsy (sold long ago, I’m afraid), so you can pop over to see this here or just rummage for other ideas in her Etsy shop.  She also shows off more of her goodies on her website.

 

Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Today, accent, decorate or hand mark just the edges and corners of a piece. Let this kind of design suggest a focal point or maybe it won’t need a focal point but rather the texture may come together to create a pattern that becomes the focus and interest of the piece. Don’t judge what you’re doing. Just let yourself go and have fun.

_________________________________________

Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.

Shades of Clay Sept 15 Blog  never knead -july-2015c-125   2Wards Blog Sept 2016

The Great Create Sept 15 blog   businesscard-3.5inx2in-h-front

_________________________________________

Graduating Gray

August 29, 2013

Grays are not the most popular color choices for jewelry and home decor, and certainly not in polymer. Gray is completely neutral and is actually a shade, not a color. However, people do have gray outfits to coordinate and, honestly, if you’re going for more subdued accent pieces with a black outfit, gray is an excellent choice.

Using a variety of grays in graduating shades, all either cool or warm,  is one of the best ways to create strong visual impact. Strong lines and graphical elements also work wonderfully with grays. Here is an assembly by Poland’s Jagna that demonstrates the drama of graduated grays and how well it can highlight a single color, even another rather neutral one. In this piece, Jagna goes from pale silver gray to dark slate, but with a trail of gold peeking out from her mokume pattern. Between the graduated grays, the graphic lines, and the contemporary shape contrast, this whole piece is the kind of adornment that could make a little black outfit really shine.

il_570xN.346210404

Here is another piece by Jagna that is just gray. It’s still very dramatic and high impact for a uncomplicated necklace design.

il_570xN.374827496_l88i

 

The one thing about working with gray (or any monochromatic palette) is that you are forced to rely heavily on your other design elements, rather than depending on color to carry a piece. In fact, one of the tricks we used in art school to analyze composition, contrast,and overall design was to take a black and white photo of the piece in question. If it didn’t work in gray scale, it was usually pretty weak even in color. Try taking a black and white photo of your work next time you get the feeling it’s not quite right, and see if that doesn’t help you find where the issue is.

 

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Free Form Wall Flowers

November 15, 2012

Do you accent your walls?

Did your brow furrow at that question? What does accenting a wall mean?

Well, I was thinking that we accent a lot of things, ourselves in particular. We wear necklaces and earrings, jazz up an outfit with a pin, add a flourish to a dessert or appetizer, toss decorative pillows on the couch and arrange knick knacks or vases on tables for no other purpose than to visually accent them. But how about walls? Walls are more likely to be hung with pictures or shelving. But how about it? Polymer is so well suited to making bright pieces, why not create to accent an empty stretch in the living room or down a hall?

These wall flowers, with their freeform shapes and whimsical colors would be the perfect accent for a room that needs a little brightening. Can you imagine a little field of them crawling across the dead space about the front door?

The mysterious young woman of Bull’s Eye Studio in Anchorage Alaska creates these along with wall plates, business card cases, utensils, and more all with similar stylized floral designs. The making of such decorative items could give you a nice break from any heavily engineered or complicated work. Layers of color, shapes and texture … might be a great way to use up some scrap as well. Just an idea …

Bull's Eye Studio's buddy icon

Clearly Layered

October 5, 2016
Posted in

ikandi-lattice-laceThe really cool thing about translucent canes is that whatever is set behind them shows through, allowing for all kinds of possibilities with imagery and depth. The cellular cane conversation started Monday now turns to how to apply translucent canes created more for textural application than for the images embedded inside.

Ivy Niles has got this particular idea down as can be seen here in what she calls a translucent lattice lace cane. Adding the mostly opaque flower patterns into the mix allows for the canes to add their own variation in layering to whatever they are applied to so the flowers sit ‘up’ on the surface while the translucent squares frame small sections of the layer beneath. The cane slices from this could be set corner to corner for a regular and consistent pattern or, due to the outer translucent edges, can be blended seamlessly into other patterns or can be applied as accent textures on corners or edges.

Ivy has several examples of how to apply this particular cane on the listing for it on Etsy (sold long ago, I’m afraid), so you can pop over to see this here or just rummage for other ideas in her Etsy shop.  She also shows off more of her goodies on her website.

 

Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Today, accent, decorate or hand mark just the edges and corners of a piece. Let this kind of design suggest a focal point or maybe it won’t need a focal point but rather the texture may come together to create a pattern that becomes the focus and interest of the piece. Don’t judge what you’re doing. Just let yourself go and have fun.

_________________________________________

Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.

Shades of Clay Sept 15 Blog  never knead -july-2015c-125   2Wards Blog Sept 2016

The Great Create Sept 15 blog   businesscard-3.5inx2in-h-front

_________________________________________

Read More

Graduating Gray

August 29, 2013
Posted in

Grays are not the most popular color choices for jewelry and home decor, and certainly not in polymer. Gray is completely neutral and is actually a shade, not a color. However, people do have gray outfits to coordinate and, honestly, if you’re going for more subdued accent pieces with a black outfit, gray is an excellent choice.

Using a variety of grays in graduating shades, all either cool or warm,  is one of the best ways to create strong visual impact. Strong lines and graphical elements also work wonderfully with grays. Here is an assembly by Poland’s Jagna that demonstrates the drama of graduated grays and how well it can highlight a single color, even another rather neutral one. In this piece, Jagna goes from pale silver gray to dark slate, but with a trail of gold peeking out from her mokume pattern. Between the graduated grays, the graphic lines, and the contemporary shape contrast, this whole piece is the kind of adornment that could make a little black outfit really shine.

il_570xN.346210404

Here is another piece by Jagna that is just gray. It’s still very dramatic and high impact for a uncomplicated necklace design.

il_570xN.374827496_l88i

 

The one thing about working with gray (or any monochromatic palette) is that you are forced to rely heavily on your other design elements, rather than depending on color to carry a piece. In fact, one of the tricks we used in art school to analyze composition, contrast,and overall design was to take a black and white photo of the piece in question. If it didn’t work in gray scale, it was usually pretty weak even in color. Try taking a black and white photo of your work next time you get the feeling it’s not quite right, and see if that doesn’t help you find where the issue is.

 

blog Banner Ad 230x125

Read More

Free Form Wall Flowers

November 15, 2012
Posted in

Do you accent your walls?

Did your brow furrow at that question? What does accenting a wall mean?

Well, I was thinking that we accent a lot of things, ourselves in particular. We wear necklaces and earrings, jazz up an outfit with a pin, add a flourish to a dessert or appetizer, toss decorative pillows on the couch and arrange knick knacks or vases on tables for no other purpose than to visually accent them. But how about walls? Walls are more likely to be hung with pictures or shelving. But how about it? Polymer is so well suited to making bright pieces, why not create to accent an empty stretch in the living room or down a hall?

These wall flowers, with their freeform shapes and whimsical colors would be the perfect accent for a room that needs a little brightening. Can you imagine a little field of them crawling across the dead space about the front door?

The mysterious young woman of Bull’s Eye Studio in Anchorage Alaska creates these along with wall plates, business card cases, utensils, and more all with similar stylized floral designs. The making of such decorative items could give you a nice break from any heavily engineered or complicated work. Layers of color, shapes and texture … might be a great way to use up some scrap as well. Just an idea …

Bull's Eye Studio's buddy icon

Read More
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