Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Evolution

I wanted to talk a little about the process by which I turn an idea into a finished piece.

I was thinking about joy. How pure joy makes a feeling that looks like a splotch of color, only on the inside of one's brain. And sometimes it's a splotch of butterflies on the inside of one's solar plexus. And naturally, that led me to thinking about Matisse and his paper cut-outs that for me at least, personify joy as splotch. Which caused me to start thinking in beads. And I made this pattern:
Which sorta worked, but was too heavy, somehow. The wonderful software package called BeadTool allows easy color changes, and I went through a billion (well, 40 anyway) iterations and finally settled on this:

And then I started to bead it. And the pattern was okay, but not exactly right. So I abandoned the pattern for an approximation. And here, then, is the finished bracelet, Joy Breaks Out:

It is my entry in this month's Etsy Beadweavers challenge, Anything Goes.

11 comments:

HDB said...

I believe you chose the perfect iteration! (isn't BeadTool great?) - and I love the single band of black Delicas on the toggle - such a nice detail.

:-) MaryLou said...

Isn't it wonderful that you can change the colors so easily with the software?!?

I really like the dark version, actually, although the one you created is quite cool. It looks like geckos climbing up an adobe wall.

:-)

Marlaine said...

The process behind the product is always intresting to see. How fun that bracelet is!

Kim said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that this is about JOY! GREAT bracelet and beautiful name and story!

Anna said...

I love hearing how people get their ideas for their pieces. Your bracelet is truly joyful and lovely!

retrothreads said...

Enjoyed reading about your thoughts behind the design. Neat pattern.

SarahKelley said...

Great story and an awesome entry!

ClaireCreations said...

Thanks for sharing your creative process. I also try many things before settling on a final design and very often start with a pattern (of sorts), but end up doing something different.

Kerrie Slade said...

A great post Melody! It's always so interesting to hear about other people's inspiration and creative process - I have been lucky enough to experience and be inspired by joy and I'm glad that you have too :D

Dawn N said...

I like the way we start out making a piece that ends up entirely different. I actually like the black version too. It would look great with a light colored line meandering through it like your challenge piece.

GrandmaMarilyn said...

Love your thought process and final process. I love BeadTool also.