Detail Rich Reflections

December 6, 2017

Still exploring the idea of setting stones in unusual ways, I have another stone setting here that rivals the stones themselves for attention.

Daniela D’Uva  creates wonderfully complex and dreamlike settings for her stones and, as shown in this piece, doesn’t stop at showcasing just one bright and shiny focal point but uses several at once. However, the crystals are hard to focus on with such colorful translucent leaves and petals surrounding them. The classic combination of purple and green is so rich and vibrant that the stones only show well because of their reflective quality. The multitude of detail, from the translucent canes to the winding tendrils to the tiny microbeads, add to a feeling of richness. The flow of the tendrils and the way the leaves point over and across the crystals keeps the eye moving.

The approach and the effect are not so different from yesterday’s piece but this one does stick with a stone-centered composition. It’s the asymmetry of the cane placement along with the tendrils and pointing leaves that give it so much energy and life.

Enjoy more of Daniela’s work on Flickr and on her Facebook page.

 

Return of Spring

March 21, 2016

Daniela DUvaGocce in Verde e ViolaFirst, my apologies, to those of you who get this by email or RSS feed, for the erratic delivery last week. We had some odd technical issues, which we did finally resolve. We’ll be moving the email and RSS to a more stable service this week, so if there are any other oddities please forgive us and know that it is all in order to get you your thrice-weekly dose of art and design chatter as promised.

So yes, a few new things are on the horizon and it would seem that three of those things will be showing their new faces this week. One will be the new blog delivery service, so you’ll see that here. I will wait until Wednesday to reveal more. Onto art now!

We are not the only ones with new stuff to share this first week of Spring. I was so thrilled to see these beauties from Daniela D’Uva, who I have long admired for her dynamic wire and polymer work. She took a break from it for a couple of years so I have missed seeing her bright and swirly pieces, then these popped up on Flickr this weekend. She’s built polymer swirls around beads of glass as a base to show off layers of the translucent canes she’s been creating. It’s a perfect homage to the new season up here in the northern hemisphere and a pretty sight for a Monday, don’t you think?

If you don’t recall Daniela’s prior pieces, a vast collection of her work, old and new, can be found on Flickr and on her Facebook page.

 

Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Let the season direct your muse! What is it about the change of season that you notice most or most enjoy? Keep in mind, this does not have to be nature inspired. It could be firing up the grill for the first time this year or the return of Peeps to market shelves. It could be that urge to clean out the studio or get that shorter hair cut. Focus on the feeling these thoughts give you and see if you can translate it into color and form for a simple homage of your own.

_________________________________________

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

      

   PCTV March 2016 Blog   

___________________________________________

Carded Fall

August 6, 2014

 

3979578644_774bfff1e0_o

Have you ever tried your hand at art trading cards (ATC)? I am rather partial to them; although, I haven’t had the chance to do one in a while. They are such stress-free types of creations because you know you are trading them with other artists who will appreciate your time and your creativity regardless of trends. You are not making them to sell, so you don’t worry about whether buyers will like them. There is no engineering of them like jewelry and no durability concerns as you would have with functional items. They are purely art and you doing whatever you like.

This whole idea of working without constraints or judgement is part of what the article in the next issue of The Polymer Arts, “Time to Play” will discuss. Allowing yourself the freedom to be creative without restriction or demands. Such playful creation is necessary to keep your creativity fresh and keep the childlike curiosity in you that pushes you to grow and discover, alive and well.

So, if you have a fall palette chosen, why not create a card or ten? That way, you can play with the combinations, the imagery and the textures that you are considering for use in the upcoming autumn season.

Daniela D’Uva  of Alkhymeia is the creator of this very fall-esque ATC. All those swirls and the lines of dots running alongside them actually convey movement and a sense of growth in a classic autumn copper and moss green palette. And why not? More than a farewell to summer, fall is about the last push from nature to ripen its bounty while it the hails the impending Winter.

I am a huge fan of Daniela’s polymer and wire combinations, as well as her full consideration regarding the back sides of her pieces. Her wonderful jewelry and other work can be found on Flickr and her own website.

 

 

If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.

14-P2 CoverFnl-blog   Blog2 -2014-02Feb-1   marble cane ad

 

Reading Weather in the Swirls

April 9, 2013

For me, swirls and curls represent, more than anything, the liveliness of Mother Nature, especially the drama of changing weather which is very much the theme here for us today in Colorado.

I grew up in Los Angeles where I think they pay Mother Nature to stay away as much as possible. Here at the foot of the Rocky Mountains we get all kinds of weather, often several wide variations in the same week if not in the same day. Yesterday it was warm enough for shorts and sunbathing but by evening we were getting blizzard warnings. It can be rather exciting and amazing to see clouds spilling over the mountain peaks in billowing curls, the swirl of leaves and dust on the sidewalks as the storm builds then the twisting fall of the snow as it comes down. Quite inspiring I have to say.

This piece of Daniela D’Uva‘s  (same piece, four views) also reminds me of the power of weather. It could be seen as the icy blue of a harsh winter wind or the swirling pools on the side of a rushing river.

6413884957_d0f81f1605

The repetition of the curling lines, echoed in the winding wire creates nonstop movement, the motion becoming an element of repetition unto itself. The near saving grace here, that which might keep us from being overwhelmed, are the three almost too small beads of blue. A touch larger or with more contrast and the beads would provide a solid resting point for the eye. I’m not saying it needs that, not if Daniela wants us to feel a little overwhelmed and lost here. It is certainly matching the crazy weather outside my window today.

Daniela is quite the master of polymer and wire work as well as completing some of the most interesting ‘back sides’ in polymer jewelry. If you’re stuck inside or just want a break from work, take a minute or two to look over the gorgeous work on her Flickr pages.

Attending to Your Back Sides

June 4, 2012

Let’s start this week with some thoughts about our back sides. (Ok … where did your mind go?!) The back of our art, especially in jewelry, can be too easily ignored or at least is treated with less consideration and attention to detail than the side we consider the front. But if you think about it, the person who owns that piece sees the back all the time. Wouldn’t you want your customers to be just as pleased or awed by what they see on the back as they are by the side that every one else sees? I think it’s such a missed opportunity to leave the back plain. How fun is it to know that the work of art around your neck or on your wrist is hiding a beautiful surprise on the back side.

This is why I so adore the work of Daniela D’Uva. She lives in Italy and works under the name Alkhymeia. All of her pieces have a carefully considered back side, some so detailed as to be more stunning than the front, making them readily reversible. (click on the photo to see the detail here.)

What do you do with your back sides?

 

Detail Rich Reflections

December 6, 2017
Posted in

Still exploring the idea of setting stones in unusual ways, I have another stone setting here that rivals the stones themselves for attention.

Daniela D’Uva  creates wonderfully complex and dreamlike settings for her stones and, as shown in this piece, doesn’t stop at showcasing just one bright and shiny focal point but uses several at once. However, the crystals are hard to focus on with such colorful translucent leaves and petals surrounding them. The classic combination of purple and green is so rich and vibrant that the stones only show well because of their reflective quality. The multitude of detail, from the translucent canes to the winding tendrils to the tiny microbeads, add to a feeling of richness. The flow of the tendrils and the way the leaves point over and across the crystals keeps the eye moving.

The approach and the effect are not so different from yesterday’s piece but this one does stick with a stone-centered composition. It’s the asymmetry of the cane placement along with the tendrils and pointing leaves that give it so much energy and life.

Enjoy more of Daniela’s work on Flickr and on her Facebook page.

 

Read More

Return of Spring

March 21, 2016
Posted in

Daniela DUvaGocce in Verde e ViolaFirst, my apologies, to those of you who get this by email or RSS feed, for the erratic delivery last week. We had some odd technical issues, which we did finally resolve. We’ll be moving the email and RSS to a more stable service this week, so if there are any other oddities please forgive us and know that it is all in order to get you your thrice-weekly dose of art and design chatter as promised.

So yes, a few new things are on the horizon and it would seem that three of those things will be showing their new faces this week. One will be the new blog delivery service, so you’ll see that here. I will wait until Wednesday to reveal more. Onto art now!

We are not the only ones with new stuff to share this first week of Spring. I was so thrilled to see these beauties from Daniela D’Uva, who I have long admired for her dynamic wire and polymer work. She took a break from it for a couple of years so I have missed seeing her bright and swirly pieces, then these popped up on Flickr this weekend. She’s built polymer swirls around beads of glass as a base to show off layers of the translucent canes she’s been creating. It’s a perfect homage to the new season up here in the northern hemisphere and a pretty sight for a Monday, don’t you think?

If you don’t recall Daniela’s prior pieces, a vast collection of her work, old and new, can be found on Flickr and on her Facebook page.

 

Inspirational Challenge of the Day: Let the season direct your muse! What is it about the change of season that you notice most or most enjoy? Keep in mind, this does not have to be nature inspired. It could be firing up the grill for the first time this year or the return of Peeps to market shelves. It could be that urge to clean out the studio or get that shorter hair cut. Focus on the feeling these thoughts give you and see if you can translate it into color and form for a simple homage of your own.

_________________________________________

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

      

   PCTV March 2016 Blog   

___________________________________________

Read More

Carded Fall

August 6, 2014
Posted in

 

3979578644_774bfff1e0_o

Have you ever tried your hand at art trading cards (ATC)? I am rather partial to them; although, I haven’t had the chance to do one in a while. They are such stress-free types of creations because you know you are trading them with other artists who will appreciate your time and your creativity regardless of trends. You are not making them to sell, so you don’t worry about whether buyers will like them. There is no engineering of them like jewelry and no durability concerns as you would have with functional items. They are purely art and you doing whatever you like.

This whole idea of working without constraints or judgement is part of what the article in the next issue of The Polymer Arts, “Time to Play” will discuss. Allowing yourself the freedom to be creative without restriction or demands. Such playful creation is necessary to keep your creativity fresh and keep the childlike curiosity in you that pushes you to grow and discover, alive and well.

So, if you have a fall palette chosen, why not create a card or ten? That way, you can play with the combinations, the imagery and the textures that you are considering for use in the upcoming autumn season.

Daniela D’Uva  of Alkhymeia is the creator of this very fall-esque ATC. All those swirls and the lines of dots running alongside them actually convey movement and a sense of growth in a classic autumn copper and moss green palette. And why not? More than a farewell to summer, fall is about the last push from nature to ripen its bounty while it the hails the impending Winter.

I am a huge fan of Daniela’s polymer and wire combinations, as well as her full consideration regarding the back sides of her pieces. Her wonderful jewelry and other work can be found on Flickr and her own website.

 

 

If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.

14-P2 CoverFnl-blog   Blog2 -2014-02Feb-1   marble cane ad

 

Read More

Reading Weather in the Swirls

April 9, 2013
Posted in

For me, swirls and curls represent, more than anything, the liveliness of Mother Nature, especially the drama of changing weather which is very much the theme here for us today in Colorado.

I grew up in Los Angeles where I think they pay Mother Nature to stay away as much as possible. Here at the foot of the Rocky Mountains we get all kinds of weather, often several wide variations in the same week if not in the same day. Yesterday it was warm enough for shorts and sunbathing but by evening we were getting blizzard warnings. It can be rather exciting and amazing to see clouds spilling over the mountain peaks in billowing curls, the swirl of leaves and dust on the sidewalks as the storm builds then the twisting fall of the snow as it comes down. Quite inspiring I have to say.

This piece of Daniela D’Uva‘s  (same piece, four views) also reminds me of the power of weather. It could be seen as the icy blue of a harsh winter wind or the swirling pools on the side of a rushing river.

6413884957_d0f81f1605

The repetition of the curling lines, echoed in the winding wire creates nonstop movement, the motion becoming an element of repetition unto itself. The near saving grace here, that which might keep us from being overwhelmed, are the three almost too small beads of blue. A touch larger or with more contrast and the beads would provide a solid resting point for the eye. I’m not saying it needs that, not if Daniela wants us to feel a little overwhelmed and lost here. It is certainly matching the crazy weather outside my window today.

Daniela is quite the master of polymer and wire work as well as completing some of the most interesting ‘back sides’ in polymer jewelry. If you’re stuck inside or just want a break from work, take a minute or two to look over the gorgeous work on her Flickr pages.

Read More

Attending to Your Back Sides

June 4, 2012
Posted in

Let’s start this week with some thoughts about our back sides. (Ok … where did your mind go?!) The back of our art, especially in jewelry, can be too easily ignored or at least is treated with less consideration and attention to detail than the side we consider the front. But if you think about it, the person who owns that piece sees the back all the time. Wouldn’t you want your customers to be just as pleased or awed by what they see on the back as they are by the side that every one else sees? I think it’s such a missed opportunity to leave the back plain. How fun is it to know that the work of art around your neck or on your wrist is hiding a beautiful surprise on the back side.

This is why I so adore the work of Daniela D’Uva. She lives in Italy and works under the name Alkhymeia. All of her pieces have a carefully considered back side, some so detailed as to be more stunning than the front, making them readily reversible. (click on the photo to see the detail here.)

What do you do with your back sides?

 

Read More
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