Monday, October 27, 2008

Lost In Translation? Alien Drinking Coffee

You might have read that I'm in an online glass creativity workshop that I love by Sylvie Lansdowne. This past week's assignment was to choose a picture from those offered and translate it into a bead.

I chose the one on the left, which is angular and complex. It was a very tough choice. I was amused by her coffee with the swirling steam, the bacon and eggs on her left, the clouds in her coffee, (think of the song, "You're So Vain"), the Starbucks logo and most of all, the angular lines and the off kilter shape and size of the face.

You can see two of my beady attempts of the art.
The top one was my first and the bottom two are the front and back side of my second bead.

As I want to teach you what NOT to do, as well as what TO do, here are some of my findings.

1. Don't worry if it doesn't turn out beautifully. If you don't stretch yourself and try, you'll never know. I think these are two of the funkiest looking beads I've made, but I'm so happy to have tried them.

2. Simplify as much as possible- patterns, designs and colors. If you have something that needs to be the focal of your focal bead, you need to give it a background so it shows up well. See my second bead to exemplify that.

3. What are the medium's traits?- glass likes to be round, so it's a great exercise in patience and heat control to get the angular lines.

4 .On my second attempt at the bead, I took some of the details and placed them on the backside of the bead to make it interesting and to carry out the interpretation of the original artwork .

5. Don't give up. Try it again to see whether your analysis improves your interpretation a second time around. I much prefer my second bead which is pictured in the bottom two photos.

6. Most importantly, learn from what you did. I know now what I would do differently in that kind of interpretive situation. But these concepts work more than on just Modern Art. If you are making a bead that will remind you of a favorite family photo, or a landscape or whatever you choose. Distill the important parts out and focus on them. Choose your colors wisely and because of size and glass characteristics simplify all of it.

Now I'm going to put both beads up in my Etsy shop. Because one other thing that I've learned over the years is that a bead might not be my favorite, but often times, it appeals to someone else. This will be one more experiment that I'm trying.
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10 comments:

  1. Hi Marcy,
    Very cool interpretations of the original artwork! I actually prefer your first bead...I feel all the colors in the background more closely mimic the essence of the original art...a chaotic morning.
    Lois

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  2. These beads are fabulous Marcy. I love what you have done with the first bead also.
    To me that captures the whole essence of the artwork... full & vibrant - almost as if sitting in a busy steamy cafe.
    Sylvie's online class sounds fabulous - what great way to extend oneself.

    I have to say that I couldn't agree more than I do with your last statement. That one seems to prove itself to me time & time again & not just with beads.

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  3. What a fun idea and this painting is a very unusual one for inspiration for a bead. I like the first attempt the most and enjoy reading your ideas and dos and donts.

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  4. Great interpretations of that picture, Marcy! I especially like the bacon and egg on the back side for an added touch. Stretching yourself is indeed a good thing!

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  5. Oh I hope you dont mind but I've tagged you now as well. Everyone I know has already been tagged at least once. I love your blog!!

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  6. How fun is that! You did a great job on the beads, Marcy. Did you use your cricket yet?

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  7. Those are really great! Sylvie was one of the best teachers I've ever had. She is so "arty", kind, talented, and sharing. Have I used enough adjectives yet? How's that Cricket? I have an unconnected Lynx - maybe I could use a dual connector too. I've a Major and hate the trying to switch. Keep melting...........

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  8. Those are both really cool. I am still amazed that there are people out there who can look at something and think "That would make a neat bead" and have it LOOK like what they were seeing! :) Great work!

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  9. Marcy,

    Thank you for the "plug" I'm having so much fun watching everyone else work through these challenges. I LOVE your coffee alien girl (because you know I SO relate to any coffee girl!) and love that you explored other ideas after the original assignment bead. YAY for coffee girl and the bead-possibilities she holds for you!!

    See you tonight at 6!!

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Hey, thanks for commenting. Visit my etsy shop, seller name: StudioMarcy