Today is my day for the Virtual Gallery Walk, a wonderful idea conceived by my friend Liz Hicks. Liz gathered together 10 artists to create an event where we share something that inspires us and how we used that inspiration to make an original piece of art. The inspiration could come from a song, a color, architecture, another artist, etc. because, really, creative expression is all around us in our daily lives.
Since I’m right now spending the day in Paris for a workshop called Ruins, Relics and Resin, I wanted my inspiration for the online gallery walk to be based on one of my favorite French artists Henri Matisse. There are numerous things I adore about Matisse’s work – his mastery of line, color, form, composition, perspective and motion. However, the thing I love the most about his work is that it makes me feel something every time I see one of his drawings or painting or late-in-life paper sculptures. Great art, to me means, that it’s not just pretty. It’s great art because it elicits emotion where I continue to see and be haunted by the imagery long after I’ve looked away from the piece.
I wanted to reinterpret a Matisse drawing in an ICE Resin necklace and a striking piece of black-and-white jewelry. The painting in the focal is my representation of his famous drawing, as shown above. Mine is a little more full figured on purpose (wink). I used his line drawing of a female figure and freeform painted it on to cured resin that I had poured as a black background layer and let dry.
Once the bezel cured in about six hours in my studio, I finished off the piece with black rosary chain and also pearl rosary chain, some vintage seam binding and a heart dangle. The heart dangle was made by drawing a bead on 18-gauge sterling wire to create a headpin and then wirewrapping a crystal bead, crystal rondelle and large crystal heart to the bottom loop of the hobnail shadow box Art Mechanique bezel.
I like the simplicity of the necklace, which I think would be a great piece to wear to a real life gallery walk with a simple black skirt and white blouse. I packed the necklace for my journey and plan to wear it today as my way of staying connected to all of you who are enjoying Liz’s exciting tour d’art.
There is so much more inspiration to come. Be sure to check out these wonderful artists’ blogs, today: Liz Hicks http://www.blogerisms.blogspot.com/, and this coming week:
Oct. 2: Kathy Cano-Murillo: http://www.craftychica.com/ and Tracy Weinzapfel http://www.tracywburgos.typepad.com/
Oct. 3: Catherine Matthews-Scanlon: http://cmscanlon.blogspot.com/ and Martha Richardson http://themermaidscloset.blogspot.com/
Oct. 4: Camille McClelland: http://shesonehotmama.blogspot.com/ and Jamie Dougherty http://www.jaylynnscraps.com/
Oct. 5: Lorraine Bell: http://actsofrandomkindness365.blogspot.com/ and Cheryl Waters- http://www.artsyfindings.com/
This is amazing!! Utterly amazing!
I’m so excited you’ll be sporting the beautiful piece in Paris! Lovely. I agree with you . . . art leaves an impression! I love you friend and love your piece. Beauuuuutiful!
Love this necklace! Love Matisse!
This is gorgeous and I love the story. This walk is going to be so much fun!
so awesome! I hope you are having a wonderfully inspirational time in Paris!
Such a fabulous piece and a great way to share some of your inspiration.
Safe travels sweetie
This is a beautiful piece and love how your inspiration is translated into something that you can sport at anytime.
I am SO excited that this virtual gallery walk has begun! I love this piece and the story behind your chosen artist, Matisse, and the influence he has had on you. Thank you so much for participating in this walk and for sharing this beautiful piece with all of us. I am happy to have found your blog and to be able to follow you regularly from now on. Will you be selling this piece (or one like it) in the future?
Thanks,
Maureen