February’s challenge painting is bright and modern with a romantic feel in a party atmosphere. The modular planes of color mixed with the subtle house shapes and the obvious roses make this perfect for the month when we declare our love (and suffer from a general lack of color in the northern hemisphere!). These creations were just the thing to beat the winter doldrums.
We are so delighted that you chose to share them with us.
Check out the beautiful art jewelry created from the theme.
We love seeing how you are inspired by the art that we choose, and we love to find new art bead artists. You are what makes the Art Bead Scene a place for celebrating art and beads!
We LOVE each of you!
Your turn!
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February 2014 Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge Recap.
Claire Lockwood
February 28, 2014 at 11:29 amFabulous stuff! (Er… my piece seems to be missing from the montage – I'll still be entered for the prize draw, yes? Can you tell that I really want to win?!) Cheers, Claire
freshbakeddesigns
February 28, 2014 at 10:23 pmOne can see right away that this month's Klee art piece really inspired us! Thanks so much for the fun.
Lynda
beadrecipes
February 28, 2014 at 10:49 pmA lovely collection of pieces! I had plans, but just ran out of time (I'm blaming the 28 day month for that!).
Jean
February 28, 2014 at 10:56 pmso wonderful!!!
Toltec Jewels for Jewel School Friends
March 1, 2014 at 2:31 pmEverything is so beautiful! I'm sad, though, that my chainmaille flowers were rejected twice. To me, chainmaille components are art beads — they certainly take much more than my embossed discs or etched metals or beaded beads and beaded clasps do! Each ring needs to be cut, designs need thought out in terms of space & color & material, and my flowers are unique — I've not seen the use of bicone embellishment in the component yet anywhere!
"Winter Garden Earrings" are embellished with Swarovski pearls & violet Ab2 bicones. But even without any embellishment, they stand alone as a handcrafted component — to be used as links, focals, even a clasp. So to me, creating handcrafted maille components are as "art bead" as creating a finding or clasp.
Not seeing my maille earrings included in the Flickr group, I submitted my earrings to the Flickr group again for a second time yesterday, posting the following discussion:
Toltec Jewels says:
Hi š
I just wanted to address the topic of chainmaille as a qualifying " art bead" — reading the description on the ABS website, chainmaille components, much like handcrafted metal work embossed components, meets the requirements:
"What is an Art Bead?
An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.
***A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.
Beaded beads, stamped metal pendants or wire-wrapped components are not considered art beads for our challenge.***
According to the M.A.I.L Artisans League, chainmaille components are an artform: " M.A.I.L. (Maille Artisans International League) is an international community of artisans and volunteers dedicated to the advancement of the chainmaille artform. We aim to encourage the sharing and spreading of information, archiving as many techniques and weaves as possible. "
I understand we may think of an art bead as a handcrafted ceramic or poly clay or lampwork or metal disc, yet not include, for example, a wire wrapped cab as an art bead because the wrapping itself can not stand alone as a component. But chainmaille components do stand alone themselves, whether embellished or not. Creating my chainmaille components require the exact same style of art work as say, creating a copper clasp or brass embossed open link. Indeed, the maille component itself is the artwork and I assert chainmaille components are as much an art bead as a copper embossed component or an enameled washer.
Just a thought! š
Gracias,
Rita
Toltec Jewels
Please, don't get me wrong. I have a collection of beautiful art beads by other artists that spans our pretty blue planet. My blog FEATURES other artists' work and beads. I am considered a "bead Snob" (a level of swapping) in Bead Swap USA, as I prefer artisan made beads and the finest gemstone beads, Czech, Swarovski, etc. rather than craft store items. I HONOR artisan crafted beads and focals and findings and components. I just HOPE with great love for our community, that Art Bead Scene please include mine.
Muchas Gracias,
Rita