A Well Adorned Man
July 22, 2016
Inspirational Art
I’ve never really understood why the majority of guys don’t like to wear jewelry. There are definitely masculine versions and, maybe I am partial, but I think jewelry is more expressive than a t-shirt or sports jersey to say something about you. I guess just wearing jewelry for a guy says something about that guy. So what does this huge piece say about this guy? It says he’s not shy to start with!
This is Randy, Karen Mitchell’s husband, and he seems to really like wearing the big and bold stuff she makes for him, so it wasn’t too shocking to see him show up on our Gala night in this piece. Karen is one half of AnKara Designs, which she has run with her sister Ann for 25 years now. For Eurosynergy, Ann and Karen had a slew of complex pieces to show off a variety of construction options for their “Polymer Jewelry Construction” presentation (which I didn’t get to see due to other obligations), and I can only assume this was one.
The movement of the swaying chains made for quite a dynamic piece to match Randy’s already dynamic personality. It also occurred to me that swaying chains on a guy says something quite different than it would on a woman. Here, it felt very strong and dominant, like it’s something a warrior would wear, but on a woman it would probably be more reminiscent of dancing and graceful movement. The wearer does make the piece, which is why some work seems to ‘belong’ on some people while it just falls flat on someone else. If I had not seen this on Randy, I never would have thought a guy could pull this off, but Randy sure did!
They posted a lot of their new work used in their presentation on their Facebook page, but you can also follow them and see where they are selling by going to their website.
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Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:
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Brazenly Bold
June 5, 2015
Inspirational Art
To end a big and bold week, we just have to go visit the genius that is Ford and Forlano. Their work is not limited by convention in any fashion, and yet their work does not appear uncomfortable or ungainly. Yes, their work is often large and visually arresting, but also there is often an openness or airiness to the forms or composition.
This necklace is a great example of going big and bold, but not looking like something that would weigh the wearer down. Its boldness is defined by the space it spreads through and the textures and bright colors. The open wire work fills the space with connections between the polymer beads, so it has a very tight cohesiveness, but it is, gratefully, not dense.
Their website has an easy to search archive of their work, so you can wander through their creative journey chronologically or zip over to your favorite art jewelry form to see what they have been up to in the last decade or so. The forms, colors and textures are highly varied, but the brazenness of their compositions is always there. Enjoy a break on their website at http://fordforlano.com/
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.
Connection–Summer 2015, Now Available … and Going Bold
June 1, 2015
Inspirational Art
First of all, the latest issue of The Polymer Arts is out! Print issues made it to the post office on Friday, so those are on their way, and the digital issue was released yesterday. If you were expecting a digital issue and you don’t see it in your inbox, check those pesky spam folders to see if it got filtered there. Otherwise, my ever-efficient assistant, Kat, can check on your subscription or order when you write her at connect@thepolymerarts.com (if you get this by email, just respond to this post, and it will go straight to her as well.) Connections is the theme for Summer 2015, and this issue is quite full to the rafters of ideas, tutorials, tips and inspiration for making connections of all kinds. Check out the line-up on the list on our home page: www.thepolymerarts.com.
In the meantime, how about a bold jewelry week while I get things back in order over at TPA headquarters?
I have long been fond of the colors and textures, as well as the kind of abandon that Christine Damm creates with her work. This piece really jumped off the screen when I first saw this a year or so ago. Christine’s magic is in the consistency of her choices. Her work is rough and imperfect, organic and unafraid. These adjectives can be applied to her chosen forms, application, texture and composition. So a huge form like the piece that takes over the focus of this necklace can have an intense sense of presence because as rough and imperfect as it is, there is such obvious intention in it being this way.
Christine’s work is really very fascinating. I have no idea where her forms might come from–they are quite original–and her colors and immediacy of the look make it hard to look away. For more of Christines’ work, go to her Flickr pages and her website.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.
I’ve never really understood why the majority of guys don’t like to wear jewelry. There are definitely masculine versions and, maybe I am partial, but I think jewelry is more expressive than a t-shirt or sports jersey to say something about you. I guess just wearing jewelry for a guy says something about that guy. So what does this huge piece say about this guy? It says he’s not shy to start with!
This is Randy, Karen Mitchell’s husband, and he seems to really like wearing the big and bold stuff she makes for him, so it wasn’t too shocking to see him show up on our Gala night in this piece. Karen is one half of AnKara Designs, which she has run with her sister Ann for 25 years now. For Eurosynergy, Ann and Karen had a slew of complex pieces to show off a variety of construction options for their “Polymer Jewelry Construction” presentation (which I didn’t get to see due to other obligations), and I can only assume this was one.
The movement of the swaying chains made for quite a dynamic piece to match Randy’s already dynamic personality. It also occurred to me that swaying chains on a guy says something quite different than it would on a woman. Here, it felt very strong and dominant, like it’s something a warrior would wear, but on a woman it would probably be more reminiscent of dancing and graceful movement. The wearer does make the piece, which is why some work seems to ‘belong’ on some people while it just falls flat on someone else. If I had not seen this on Randy, I never would have thought a guy could pull this off, but Randy sure did!
They posted a lot of their new work used in their presentation on their Facebook page, but you can also follow them and see where they are selling by going to their website.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:
_________________________________________
Read MoreTo end a big and bold week, we just have to go visit the genius that is Ford and Forlano. Their work is not limited by convention in any fashion, and yet their work does not appear uncomfortable or ungainly. Yes, their work is often large and visually arresting, but also there is often an openness or airiness to the forms or composition.
This necklace is a great example of going big and bold, but not looking like something that would weigh the wearer down. Its boldness is defined by the space it spreads through and the textures and bright colors. The open wire work fills the space with connections between the polymer beads, so it has a very tight cohesiveness, but it is, gratefully, not dense.
Their website has an easy to search archive of their work, so you can wander through their creative journey chronologically or zip over to your favorite art jewelry form to see what they have been up to in the last decade or so. The forms, colors and textures are highly varied, but the brazenness of their compositions is always there. Enjoy a break on their website at http://fordforlano.com/
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.
First of all, the latest issue of The Polymer Arts is out! Print issues made it to the post office on Friday, so those are on their way, and the digital issue was released yesterday. If you were expecting a digital issue and you don’t see it in your inbox, check those pesky spam folders to see if it got filtered there. Otherwise, my ever-efficient assistant, Kat, can check on your subscription or order when you write her at connect@thepolymerarts.com (if you get this by email, just respond to this post, and it will go straight to her as well.) Connections is the theme for Summer 2015, and this issue is quite full to the rafters of ideas, tutorials, tips and inspiration for making connections of all kinds. Check out the line-up on the list on our home page: www.thepolymerarts.com.
In the meantime, how about a bold jewelry week while I get things back in order over at TPA headquarters?
I have long been fond of the colors and textures, as well as the kind of abandon that Christine Damm creates with her work. This piece really jumped off the screen when I first saw this a year or so ago. Christine’s magic is in the consistency of her choices. Her work is rough and imperfect, organic and unafraid. These adjectives can be applied to her chosen forms, application, texture and composition. So a huge form like the piece that takes over the focus of this necklace can have an intense sense of presence because as rough and imperfect as it is, there is such obvious intention in it being this way.
Christine’s work is really very fascinating. I have no idea where her forms might come from–they are quite original–and her colors and immediacy of the look make it hard to look away. For more of Christines’ work, go to her Flickr pages and her website.
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.
