ABS October !

Gaea Necklace

Time for ABS October challenge !

http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-monthly-challenge.html

This month's painting is a delight of muted color and natural items!

I  adore " Hedgehog in a Landscape" by Giovanna Garzoni

At first glance , I knew I would make some lovely neutral oak leaves...just my style. No brainer ...right ?

Then I began to read about the artist .

Giavanna began painting as a young girl and was one of the first women to paint still life.

In our time, not extraordinary , in hers a very brave move.

Thinking about this , I was drawn to ideas of  strong women .

I mused about womanhood and our close connection to the forces of nature.

My inspiration evolved into a earth mother theme .

My focal idea became a  " Goddess bead".

I somehow saw a heart shape in that hedge hog's face ...don't ask!

I used the heart shape in the pendant and the clasp bead.

Along the way my goddess became a bit more "Greek statue " and less "primitive icon" .

But, I was pleased with the shape and the way the clay developed shading .

I picked some natural silk ribbon for the softness of womanhood . I added  stoneware  worn smooth by the ocean waves.
Pieces that stay strong against the elements and become more beatuiful with age .
I added a snail shell and some acorns,items straight from the painting ,that are ancient fertility symbols.
Then just a few leaves for balance ...
my necklace was finished ...
or was it ???

Goddess beads aren't for everyone or for everyday.
I make no apology for using the frank beauty of the female form  in my creation .
However ,I kept rethinking my design .Was my focal more new young beauty than the classic earth mother  I had envisioned  ?

I took my necklace to my most frank critics , close friends!
My friends range from quirky mixed media artist to prim and proper conservative !
They are kind and rarely say  "what were you thinking "!!!
But, if they say "oh that's nice " ...well ...I get the point!!!
As a whole they liked my design !
One friend ,who happens to be pregnant, loved it !!!
However, she admitted  she probably wouldn't actually wear it .
She thought a more primitive goddess would be closer to  her style.
So we Googled Goddesses  for comparison .
We both loved an ancient design with a  spiral fertility symbolize on it.
back to the drawing board  , ie: clay table.
I created a new softer  looking female form and I used the snail shell to give her a spiral  on the tummy !
I am finally content with my creation !
I followed  that gut feeling and rethought my concept .
Sometimes  a revisit and and redo are in order !
Please don't tell , but my necklace is going to be part of a baby shower gift for my friend !
this week
revisit a not quite right design
refresh, redo
and
Bead  Happy !

m.e.