Tuesday 27 June 2017

Art Elements June Challenge - Insects

Usually the Art Elements monthly themed challenge is based on a component created by one of the team members. This month the inspiration is a little more free form. Diana Ptazynski has selected Insects as the theme. Here are all the details on the challenge


Cecropia Moth - Photo by Ashley Fly

This particular challenge is not limited to jewellery and is in fact open to any type of artistic interpretation so long as it is an original creation. As it is the choice of my creative muse, I have stayed with the jewellery theme. Digging through my inventory stash I found 2 dragonfly pendants, one in earthenware clay and one ceramic, and decided to make 2 variations on the dragonfly theme

This first one is centered on the ceramic dragonfly created by Cindy Pack. With its rich earthy green and light brown colours I decided to work with gemstones in complementary colours, selecting green tourmaline in a coin shape and moonstone in the traditional round bead shape. As I was laying out my pattern I realized there were hints of blue in that pendant so I added square shaped durmortierite beads to the necklace. I liked the colour combinations and the way the shapes add variety to the necklace

I used one part of a silver tone clasp as a bail for the pendant, a silver plated lobster clasp and a gunmetal round chain to complete the necklace. Both the bail and clasp were darkened with gilders paste to fit the look of the design better

Dark Dragon

The second dragonfly pendant came from Jenny Davies Reazor and is made of earthenware clay with some lovely glaze colours. I went much lighter with the colour palette on this one with rough citrine nuggets, crystals in brown and green and copper for the bail, clasp and finishing pieces. The citrine beads are tumbled smooth but because of the rough cuts they don’t lie smoothly, giving a bit of a twisted look to the necklace

Twisting Dragonfly
That sweet little pendant was created for the 2014 Beads of Courage auction and is inscribed with the year and the word Soar on the back, which is how this necklace makes me feel

Reverse of Twisting Dragonfly


I have some of each of the gemstones and crystals used in the necklaces and am feeling inspired to make some matching earrings. Hopefully that will get done next week

I hope you enjoyed seeing my creations. They are available in my shop

Do see what everyone else made. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day


Guests
Mona Arnott  - You are here

Art Elements Team
Claire Fabian


26 comments:

  1. Very nice - I especially love the earthy feel of the first piece.

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    1. I was happy with how they turned out too. Much as I like the lighter colours for summer, the darker necklace is probably my favourite
      Mona

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  2. I love your dragonfly necklace designs. They are both so different in color but both are very beautiful.

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    1. Thanks so much Cathy. I was excited when I realised I had the two art beads to work with
      Mona

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  3. Very pretty necklaces! Thank you for joining the challenge!

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  4. You found some lovely gemstones in your stash for both designs! I really love the mix of beads in that first necklace!

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    1. Thank you Sarajo. I was happy with out it came out
      Mona

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  5. Nice job Mona! Thanks for joining in!

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    1. Thanks Niky. It's always fun to be able to play along
      Mona

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  7. Beautiful designs, I love your colour choices!

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    1. Thank you Caroline. The art beads were my muses for each piece
      Mona

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  8. They are really lovely and I love that you actually used one of Jenny's bead of courage! :)

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    1. Thanks Claire. It somehow got buried in the bottom of my inventory stash so it was a happy discovery
      Mona

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  9. Thank you for playing along with us this month! I love the pieces you were inspired and how the finished necklaces turned out. Beautiful!

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    1. Thank you Lindsay. The broad category was fun wasn't it?
      Mona

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  10. Ooh - I am so excited to see! The blue gemstones really bring out the blue notes in the glaze. And well - I am a wee bit partial to dragonfly #2!. Gorgeous citrine!

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    1. Thank you Jenny. It was such fun to do the 2 interpretations of the theme
      Mona

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  11. Your necklaces have a rustic worn-in feeling to them which is really great

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    1. Thanks Divya. They do have that well loved feel to them don't they?
      Mona

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  12. Especially love the dark dragon...very moody :0)

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    1. Thanks Lesley. He sure is moody looking.
      Mona

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  13. So pretty I too love Dark Dragon :D

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    1. Thanks Laney. He was the first one I chose the beads for and the first one I put together
      Mona

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