I had wanted to something with a more romantic feel for a little while. most of my bead stash consists of darker colours and I am slowly adding to the variety so it took me a while to get enough pale/ pastel-tone beads together to get a romantic feeling piece done.
I looked through all the images I had gathered and I decided to use a painting by Mary Jane Ansell, a Brighton based portrait artist .she does amazing portraits, very expressive, the colours are very subtle so it was perfect for what I had in mind. This painting is called “girl with roses”.
The beads I chose matched the colours in the painting perfectly, maybe a little too perfectly. The thing is, the colours in the painting are very subdued and pale so using pale beads did nothing to really bring the painting forward in my opinion, but even seeing this I didn’t know what to do and how to make things better. I just kept going.
In an attempt to bring some colour to the piece I added some AB crystals around the piece. Also since I make a lot of brooches I decided to get these new pin backs with bails so the brooch can also be used as necklaces.
The thing is I am not in anyway shape or form at ease with using these sorts of colours so maybe I am just being too picky, but I have to be honest, this is not one of my favorite pieces. I would love to know to know what you guys think! What would you have done differently?
LIST OF MATERIALS USED:
- 35MM CLEAR GLASS DOME CABOCHON
- 6MM PINK/AMETHYST MIX GLASS FROM THE BEAD GALLERY
- 4MM FACETED ROUND VITRAIL FIRE POLISHED GLASS BEADS
- 3MM BLACK DIAMOND AB ROUND CZECH PRESSED GLASS BEAD
- 3MM SMOKY TOPAZ AB ROUND CZECH PRESSED GLASS BEAD
- 5x14MM ANTIQUE SILVER PLATED PEWTER SMALL ANGEL WINGS
- SMOKEY AMETHYST AB SEED BEADS SIZE 11/0
- DYED SMOKEY OPAL ALABASTER SEED BEAD SIZE 11/0
- METALLIC VIOLET SEED BEADS SIZE 15/0
- 1.25” PIN BACK WITH BAIL
- LACY’S STIFF STUFF
- GREY ULTRASUEDE
- FIRELINE THREAD 0.006 IN CLEAR
- E-6000
BEADFEAST 
Pingback: Alphonse Mucha Ruby Brooch | BEADFEAST
Just curious… do you ask the artists for permission before you use their paintings in your jewelry?
Well to be honest when i wanted to start this blog that was one of the issues that really worried me. A lawyer friend of mine asked her friends who were more familiar with this type of situation told me because the nature of the piece is different than the original artwork and the pieces are not for sale there isn’t a problem with using the images hope this answers your question. Also your work is amazing!
Thanks! I’m only asking since I am friends with a couple of the artists whose work you are using for your jewelry. I would recommend asking them if you might borrow their imagery for your work, with emphasis that you’re not selling them. It never hurts to ask! I know they’d appreciate it – I certainly do when someone is kind enough to ask permission before use my work for something. 🙂
Thanks for letting me know. I have to say i did email a couple artists and i never got replies but since i was told it was not an issue that’s when i started putting the work up. But i will definitely try harder to get permission when i start making more pieces
Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a team of volunteers and starting a new project in a community
in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on.
You have done a marvellous job!
thank you ! i am glad you found the blog useful . i am sorry i replied so late but if you have any questions let me know and i will be more than glad to help you out!