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.
The Spark in a Heart
April 7, 2015
Inspirational Art
A focal point can pop without a lot of shimmer or shine. This poor, but beautiful, little heart looks like it’s been through a rough time or two or ten. But, it has this one bright spot on its battered surface–an off-white accent that almost glows against the deep, dark colors of the rest of the heart.
This kind of real world heart is the creation of Greece’s Helen P. of Eleins Kingdom on Etsy. It’s kind of difficult to pull our glance from the one light colored spot here, but there is also a bit of lovely filigree work to pull you to the left side with a network that includes some lighter showings within some canes. But still, that one spot, out in the open landscape of this heart, draws the eye back. Here it is the contrast in color and value situated in a relatively open space that makes this focal jump out. A simple technique, but a very effective one.
Helen has many more of these kinds of hearts, as well as other charming pieces to catch your eye in her Etsy shop.
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.
Popping Focals
April 6, 2015
Inspirational Art
Who doesn’t like a little drama? Well, with half the world just in love with over-the-top reality TV and crazy viral videos, maybe a good deal of people actually prefer a lot of drama. But, rather than going over the top or trying to shock, let’s look at ways to get a big punch out of something singularly simple–focal points. It’s rare to have a piece of art that doesn’t have a focal point, but while some are quite subtle, others are undeniable and sometimes, even hard to look away from. Ideally, subtle or not, you want the focal point to pull a viewer in but have their eye stay to investigate the rest.
So, if you make that focal point pop, you also want to create it in such a way that what you have is a nice place to stop, but nothing so overwhelming as to keep the viewer from exploring the details that surround it. Encouraging the viewer to spend time looking at the work allows them to develop a more particular knowledge of, and maybe a personal connection to, the piece, which makes the viewing more of an experience than just a pleasant glance.
This piece here is a pretty dramatic example. The colors are what snap you to attention, but when you focus, it is on the large rivoli crystal. We do love our shiny stuff, and this one is too huge to miss. However, the rich rainbow colors that are gently wrapped around it begs to be explored as well. Once you’ve taken in the sweeping lines of graduated color, you still want to step back and take it all in. It’s dramatic, but relatively simple, and the combination will hold the viewer for a long, pleasant moment.
This kind of drama can be found throughout the collections by Arbel Shemesh that you can see on Etsy here.
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.
A focal point can pop without a lot of shimmer or shine. This poor, but beautiful, little heart looks like it’s been through a rough time or two or ten. But, it has this one bright spot on its battered surface–an off-white accent that almost glows against the deep, dark colors of the rest of the heart.
This kind of real world heart is the creation of Greece’s Helen P. of Eleins Kingdom on Etsy. It’s kind of difficult to pull our glance from the one light colored spot here, but there is also a bit of lovely filigree work to pull you to the left side with a network that includes some lighter showings within some canes. But still, that one spot, out in the open landscape of this heart, draws the eye back. Here it is the contrast in color and value situated in a relatively open space that makes this focal jump out. A simple technique, but a very effective one.
Helen has many more of these kinds of hearts, as well as other charming pieces to catch your eye in her Etsy shop.
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.
Who doesn’t like a little drama? Well, with half the world just in love with over-the-top reality TV and crazy viral videos, maybe a good deal of people actually prefer a lot of drama. But, rather than going over the top or trying to shock, let’s look at ways to get a big punch out of something singularly simple–focal points. It’s rare to have a piece of art that doesn’t have a focal point, but while some are quite subtle, others are undeniable and sometimes, even hard to look away from. Ideally, subtle or not, you want the focal point to pull a viewer in but have their eye stay to investigate the rest.
So, if you make that focal point pop, you also want to create it in such a way that what you have is a nice place to stop, but nothing so overwhelming as to keep the viewer from exploring the details that surround it. Encouraging the viewer to spend time looking at the work allows them to develop a more particular knowledge of, and maybe a personal connection to, the piece, which makes the viewing more of an experience than just a pleasant glance.
This piece here is a pretty dramatic example. The colors are what snap you to attention, but when you focus, it is on the large rivoli crystal. We do love our shiny stuff, and this one is too huge to miss. However, the rich rainbow colors that are gently wrapped around it begs to be explored as well. Once you’ve taken in the sweeping lines of graduated color, you still want to step back and take it all in. It’s dramatic, but relatively simple, and the combination will hold the viewer for a long, pleasant moment.
This kind of drama can be found throughout the collections by Arbel Shemesh that you can see on Etsy here.
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.
