For some time now I’ve been big admirer of the work of Dawn Dodson of La Touchables. If you participate in or follow the monthly ABS challenge, you’re likely to have come across her jewellery designs. I know her entries have been featured in a number of Erin‘s Perfect Pairings posts. They’re like no other I know of: Dawn’s pieces have a style that is immediately recognisable and all her own. They have a primitive feel and yet they seem subtly luxurious, in part because they’re always loaded with beautiful things, including lots of art beads. She also takes fabulous photos that are brilliantly styled. There are plenty here for you to admire. You’ll find more on her blog and in her shop. As I find her designs so compelling, I thought I’d see if she fancied telling us something more about her work.
When did you first get interested in beads and beading
and how did it come about?
and how did it come about?
One night in the late 1960’s, playing in the backyard
of our apartment complex with my brother, I took an ugly garden pot in my hand
and held it up in the air stating, “This is a great artifact from the days
of the Egyptians!” Then I hurled it to the ground where it exploded into
shards, each one more beautiful than the next. Blame it on the eerie outdoor
lighting and the marshmallows, an epiphany followed and my brother grew up to
be a ceramicist while a seed was sown in me which lay dormant for decades till
just a few years ago.
of our apartment complex with my brother, I took an ugly garden pot in my hand
and held it up in the air stating, “This is a great artifact from the days
of the Egyptians!” Then I hurled it to the ground where it exploded into
shards, each one more beautiful than the next. Blame it on the eerie outdoor
lighting and the marshmallows, an epiphany followed and my brother grew up to
be a ceramicist while a seed was sown in me which lay dormant for decades till
just a few years ago.
I started making necklaces out of pure curiousity. In art school in the 80’s I had taken a metalsmithing class, and abandoned that to concentrate on painting. So art history and color had always held me in a stranglehold, manifesting itself in a funky way of dressing, cutting my own hair, or altering my clothes. For years I more or less floated along regarding my creative life, never quite taking myself seriously enough to do anything about it. Then one day the tides changed.
My love of personal adornment began to grow when I
came into the possession of vintage bakelite and multi-part antique metal
buttons, and thought I could make something out of them. At that time I was
working from the diningroom table on my bags and things.
came into the possession of vintage bakelite and multi-part antique metal
buttons, and thought I could make something out of them. At that time I was
working from the diningroom table on my bags and things.
I see from your blog and your Etsy shop that you work
a lot with textiles and also make jewellery using different fabrics. Did this
interest start before your interest in beads? Can you say a bit about how your
work with textiles informs your jewellery designs.
a lot with textiles and also make jewellery using different fabrics. Did this
interest start before your interest in beads? Can you say a bit about how your
work with textiles informs your jewellery designs.
I’d say it was a parallel development. Working with
textiles makes me predisposed to finding other solutions to construction
techniques, which fascinates me because of my love of contrasting hard and
soft. But it’s not about a technique shouting. For me, it’s about the beads.
textiles makes me predisposed to finding other solutions to construction
techniques, which fascinates me because of my love of contrasting hard and
soft. But it’s not about a technique shouting. For me, it’s about the beads.
You use a lot of art beads in your designs. Who are
your favourite bead makers and what is it in their work that appeals to you?
your favourite bead makers and what is it in their work that appeals to you?
I look for a singular voice, show of hand, sculptural
organic forms, attention to detail, artistic development and especially
passion.
organic forms, attention to detail, artistic development and especially
passion.
I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg, and forgive
me for leaving anyone out. Happy Fallout first caught my eye with her Tea in the
Sahara ceramic beads. Her layering of glazes and textures is hypnotic. Balela Ceramics
makes magnificent sculptural porcelain
and stoneware beads with subtle glazes and powdery pastels and neutrals.
Edooley seduced me with her translucent color and delicate lampwork forms.
Donna Perlinplim has such a refreshing take on things, from delicate decals to
ancient looking glazes on embossed ceramic. TwoSistersDesigns makes organic
painterly beads and I love her matt effetre lampwork. LaccentNou‘s pitfired and
gold glazed beads have me swooning. RaggedRobyn robbed my heart with her tribal
handpainted ceramic beads. Calisto makes gorgeous luminous lampwork, and I have
just discovered NuminosityBeads (delicate explosions of natural beauty in her
lampwork) and Something to do Beads (your work is at once modern, fun, and
delicate, and I love how you paint with glaze, leaving raw ceramic edges).
me for leaving anyone out. Happy Fallout first caught my eye with her Tea in the
Sahara ceramic beads. Her layering of glazes and textures is hypnotic. Balela Ceramics
makes magnificent sculptural porcelain
and stoneware beads with subtle glazes and powdery pastels and neutrals.
Edooley seduced me with her translucent color and delicate lampwork forms.
Donna Perlinplim has such a refreshing take on things, from delicate decals to
ancient looking glazes on embossed ceramic. TwoSistersDesigns makes organic
painterly beads and I love her matt effetre lampwork. LaccentNou‘s pitfired and
gold glazed beads have me swooning. RaggedRobyn robbed my heart with her tribal
handpainted ceramic beads. Calisto makes gorgeous luminous lampwork, and I have
just discovered NuminosityBeads (delicate explosions of natural beauty in her
lampwork) and Something to do Beads (your work is at once modern, fun, and
delicate, and I love how you paint with glaze, leaving raw ceramic edges).
I’m still educating myself about bead artists, trying to better manage my time and budget.
Do you have a favourite medium when it comes to buying
art beads?
art beads?
Stoneware, porcelain, lampwork, bone, and other
natural materials. I’m open for anything though, and always ready to
experiment.
natural materials. I’m open for anything though, and always ready to
experiment.
Do you have a dedicated studio or do you work around
the home? Can you describe your work space?
the home? Can you describe your work space?
My studio is in the garden with a view to the garden
house.
house.
I work best in organized chaos, so at the end of the
day I can close the door and leave things sitting around on the table. I don’t
have a decent photogenic image. It is what it is, a space I can take my hat off
in.
day I can close the door and leave things sitting around on the table. I don’t
have a decent photogenic image. It is what it is, a space I can take my hat off
in.
On occasion I’ll work at the diningroom table.
Do you have a favourite piece or pieces?
The one I’m working on. When I’m finished with that
one, the next one will be my favourite.
one, the next one will be my favourite.
Most of my pieces are accompanied by a story, and I’ll
often consider a piece to belong to one of three lines: Lost City, Earth Lines,
Stone Diaries.
often consider a piece to belong to one of three lines: Lost City, Earth Lines,
Stone Diaries.
Are there any designers
(whether of jewellery or textiles) who have been a particular influence on your
work?
(whether of jewellery or textiles) who have been a particular influence on your
work?
My inspiration comes from
the women and men in my past who made beautiful things with their hands,
because that was what they had. I’m also influenced by street fashion,
mythology and history. I gravitate to things that have a warm human nature, yet
are designed with skill and imagination with a tendency to minimalist
simplicity. It could be a loaf of homemade bread, or the wooden hull of a
sailboat. Both forms, by the way, require some design element. To that effect
there are no shortcuts.
the women and men in my past who made beautiful things with their hands,
because that was what they had. I’m also influenced by street fashion,
mythology and history. I gravitate to things that have a warm human nature, yet
are designed with skill and imagination with a tendency to minimalist
simplicity. It could be a loaf of homemade bread, or the wooden hull of a
sailboat. Both forms, by the way, require some design element. To that effect
there are no shortcuts.
Thank you, Claire. It’s a
pleasure being featured on the Art Bead Scene Blog.
pleasure being featured on the Art Bead Scene Blog.
Thank you, Dawn! For more eye candy and insight into Dawn’s work, head here:
Links:
Yael
April 28, 2015 at 9:41 amWonderful interview with a very soulful artist – XOXOXO Dawn! 🙂
Katherine Thompson
April 28, 2015 at 1:02 pmThis is one talented lady! I really appreciate when a person has a vision or style then refines and sticks to it.
Mary Harding
April 28, 2015 at 1:59 pmWhat an interesting interview Claire!! I found the fabric and bead connection to be just beautiful. Thanks so much for doing this!!
Janet Bocciardi
April 28, 2015 at 3:32 pmGreat interview and thank you for introducing me to this talented artist. Beautiful work!
(the link to two sisters is incorrect. here's the correct link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/twosisterscarmelca
Dawn of LaTouchables
April 28, 2015 at 7:20 pmThank you for the kind comments, everyone.
The link for TwoSistersDesignss is:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoSistersDesignss
Tracee Dock - The Classic Bead
April 29, 2015 at 1:54 amWhat a lovely insight to your creative world!
thanks so much for sharing… wonderful interview
tracee
windrock studio
April 29, 2015 at 2:37 amIf I had not fallen in love with Dawn and her glorious creations many years ago, reading her words and swooning over the photos here would certainly make me a life long fan.
Karen M
April 29, 2015 at 7:46 pmMy favorite interview of the year. It's great when an artist is bold and unafraid – reaching beyond the norm. Thanks.
Eileen The Artful Crafter
May 1, 2015 at 8:46 pmNot only is Dawn a wonderful jewelry artist, she's also a wonderful writer. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her interview.
Ann Schroeder
May 2, 2015 at 10:48 pmGreat interview with a wonderful artist. I've enjoyed seeing her creations here on Art Bead Scene.
Dawn of LaTouchables
May 4, 2015 at 7:19 amThank you everyone for reading my interview. I'm grateful there's a place like this–where I have discovered new artists. It's a wonderful website and makes me feel like I'm swimming in a giant lagune filled with talented folks–somewhere on a tropical island. 😀