Graphical Pattern Play
April 18, 2015
Inspirational Art, Technique tutorials
Well, has this week’s cool patterns got you hankering to try a some new dramatic patterns yourself? Here, I found a great online tutorial that uses the drama of graphical black patterns edged by white to pump up the color and pattern of scrap canes. It’s a beautifully simple technique brought to us by Pinklily of France. I decided to show you just the resultant sheets here and hope you’ll go see what can be made from them on her blog post. Because the options are too fun to miss I thought you might just get curious and click through.
The instructions on here are in French and can’t be copied into Google translate, but I think the images are pretty self-explanatory. Although she uses canes for the background, you could really use any kind of pattern from marbling to leftover mokume to Stroppel canes. You could even keep it simple with a solid or Skinner blend background. The general effect will be the same.
Pinklily is pretty generous with her tutorials on her blog, so if you like this, take some time to wander about and see what other fund stuff she might have for you.
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.
Bringing it back to the Center
April 11, 2015
Inspirational Art
I was trying to find a piece that kind of brought together all the various approaches that we talked about this week. Finding something that specific is a little tough, but this piece by Slovenian artist, Tina Mežek hits on a number of approaches to create a really dramatic focal on her necklace.
Obviously size is helping to make the focal bead stand out, but also those lines on the gold layer of the frame all move inward, drawing the eye that direction. The red against black is a classic dramatic color combination as well, and that black is so dark, it can work like negative space, especially if worn on dark clothing. So you see, many approaches can be brought together to heighten the drama when that is what you are after.
If this subject has piqued your interest , you can get further ideas by simply keeping an eye on how other people have used contrast, composition, negative space, line, etc. to bring about some really dramatic focal points.
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.
Outside Inspiration: A Change in Texture
April 10, 2015
Inspirational Art
Some of the most dramatic focal points are the quiet ones. Like the way a room can be buzzing with conversation and movement as people mingle at a party, but the one person who keeps drawing your eye when you look around is the quiet one, not talking, just leaning up against a wall and watching. That quiet stillness is such a contrast to the rest of the environment and without saying a single word, someone or something can manage to grab all available attention.
This beautiful collar necklace by Laura McCabe demonstrates this wonderfully. The intricacy of the beadwork draws you in, but it’s that single red cabochon that holds your attention and seems to laud over the piece. It’s also what makes all the busy bead work visually manageable as it gives the eye a place to rest. Because of its contrasting calm, not to mention its central position, the viewer will constantly be drawn back to it. It’s one strong focal point in a very dramatic piece.
This is one of Laura’s older pieces, so the only thing I have for you to investigate if this particular style appeals to you is the blog I originally found this on, The Secret Life of Jewelry, which is an awesome spot for finding great art jewelry, by the way. Laura’s more recent work takes on a kind of punk aesthetic with a lot of pointy beads and darker colors. It’s very lovely work whether that is your thing or not. You can find her more recent work on her newer 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.
Drawn to the Drama
April 8, 2015
Inspirational Art
Shimmering and shiny or high contrast are not the only way to make a focal point stand out. Texture and lines can bring our focus to the prime point in a piece as quickly as anything else. In this very curious brooch/necklace piece, Russia’s Radada combines pieces of paua (abalone) shell and textured polymer in such a way that it’s hard to distinguish which is shell and which is polymer. But from the lines on the bordering form to the dense texture in the center, all the elements are drawing us to the large center piece.
This focal point is not a well-defined gem or form, but its lack of contrasting definition doesn’t work against it; quite the opposite. I think it will make most, if not all, viewers step in for a closer look. There is a lot going on here, and the more time you spend with it, the more you’ll see. The piece is very dramatic even without any heavy contrast. But, I think that is where the balance comes in. It feel so dramatic, but even more so for its bold form and heavy texture. The colors and the way the textures blend keep it from going overboard.
Radada’s LiveJournal photostream is full of these organic and amorphous forms. And felted bunnies among other curiosities. It’s a bit of a crazy mix, but a fun bit to explore.
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.
Well, has this week’s cool patterns got you hankering to try a some new dramatic patterns yourself? Here, I found a great online tutorial that uses the drama of graphical black patterns edged by white to pump up the color and pattern of scrap canes. It’s a beautifully simple technique brought to us by Pinklily of France. I decided to show you just the resultant sheets here and hope you’ll go see what can be made from them on her blog post. Because the options are too fun to miss I thought you might just get curious and click through.
The instructions on here are in French and can’t be copied into Google translate, but I think the images are pretty self-explanatory. Although she uses canes for the background, you could really use any kind of pattern from marbling to leftover mokume to Stroppel canes. You could even keep it simple with a solid or Skinner blend background. The general effect will be the same.
Pinklily is pretty generous with her tutorials on her blog, so if you like this, take some time to wander about and see what other fund stuff she might have for you.
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 was trying to find a piece that kind of brought together all the various approaches that we talked about this week. Finding something that specific is a little tough, but this piece by Slovenian artist, Tina Mežek hits on a number of approaches to create a really dramatic focal on her necklace.
Obviously size is helping to make the focal bead stand out, but also those lines on the gold layer of the frame all move inward, drawing the eye that direction. The red against black is a classic dramatic color combination as well, and that black is so dark, it can work like negative space, especially if worn on dark clothing. So you see, many approaches can be brought together to heighten the drama when that is what you are after.
If this subject has piqued your interest , you can get further ideas by simply keeping an eye on how other people have used contrast, composition, negative space, line, etc. to bring about some really dramatic focal points.
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.
Some of the most dramatic focal points are the quiet ones. Like the way a room can be buzzing with conversation and movement as people mingle at a party, but the one person who keeps drawing your eye when you look around is the quiet one, not talking, just leaning up against a wall and watching. That quiet stillness is such a contrast to the rest of the environment and without saying a single word, someone or something can manage to grab all available attention.
This beautiful collar necklace by Laura McCabe demonstrates this wonderfully. The intricacy of the beadwork draws you in, but it’s that single red cabochon that holds your attention and seems to laud over the piece. It’s also what makes all the busy bead work visually manageable as it gives the eye a place to rest. Because of its contrasting calm, not to mention its central position, the viewer will constantly be drawn back to it. It’s one strong focal point in a very dramatic piece.
This is one of Laura’s older pieces, so the only thing I have for you to investigate if this particular style appeals to you is the blog I originally found this on, The Secret Life of Jewelry, which is an awesome spot for finding great art jewelry, by the way. Laura’s more recent work takes on a kind of punk aesthetic with a lot of pointy beads and darker colors. It’s very lovely work whether that is your thing or not. You can find her more recent work on her newer 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.
Shimmering and shiny or high contrast are not the only way to make a focal point stand out. Texture and lines can bring our focus to the prime point in a piece as quickly as anything else. In this very curious brooch/necklace piece, Russia’s Radada combines pieces of paua (abalone) shell and textured polymer in such a way that it’s hard to distinguish which is shell and which is polymer. But from the lines on the bordering form to the dense texture in the center, all the elements are drawing us to the large center piece.
This focal point is not a well-defined gem or form, but its lack of contrasting definition doesn’t work against it; quite the opposite. I think it will make most, if not all, viewers step in for a closer look. There is a lot going on here, and the more time you spend with it, the more you’ll see. The piece is very dramatic even without any heavy contrast. But, I think that is where the balance comes in. It feel so dramatic, but even more so for its bold form and heavy texture. The colors and the way the textures blend keep it from going overboard.
Radada’s LiveJournal photostream is full of these organic and amorphous forms. And felted bunnies among other curiosities. It’s a bit of a crazy mix, but a fun bit to explore.
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.
