Dreamy is truly the perfect description for the artwork of Odilon Redon that serves as our inspiration for Art Journey Four! I find the soft, indistinct edges appealing and somewhat soothing. They are almost a little blurry… just like my dreams upon waking.
I hope you’re already thinking about what you might create for this new Art Journey, but if you need some ideas, I’m here to help! I’ve been having fun looking through some of my favorite shops and my own bead stash to find tons of yummy art beads that could work for each of the inspiration pieces.
Here’s my standard caveat: This isn’t in any way meant to be exhaustive or a shopping list… I realize that some of these makers are outside of the U.S. and that it’s always possible that not all my picks will still be available by the time you see this post. That being said, I’m providing a link to each artist’s shop in the photo captions for you.
Madame Arthur Fontaine
This first painting was the most difficult for me and yet I may be the happiest with the art beads that I found to share with you! Yellow is often a difficult color for me (and I suspect that I’m not alone in this!)… I really had to search for art beads in the correct hue. Yellow really not your thing?… focus on white or the small hints of pale purple/blue around the edges instead! (It’s hard to tell, but there is some subtle purple around the edge of the pendant from Graceful Willow Beads below.)
I looked not just for the right colors but also floral motifs and pieces that mimicked the lace in her dress. The circular pendant and charms also made me think of her embroidery hoop.
Madame Arthur Fontaine :: 1) Humblebeads 2) Majoyoal 3) Captured Moments 4) Nadia Terra 5) Graceful Willow Beads 6) Lindy’s Designs
For someone who is not drawn to yellow, I had a surprising number of options in my own bead stash. Several of these read more “golden” than “yellow” to me, so that may explain it. Again, I found some flowers and leafy inspiration. The bracelet bar really reminded me of the background immediately around her head.
Bouquet of Flowers
Of the three inspiration pieces this month, this is the one that most speaks to me personally. I adore the riot of color in the wonderfully varied bouquet of flowers and the soft fuzziness of it all. Not surprisingly, I found tons of great floral art beads to share. The bouquet pendants from The Classic Bead look like they could have been plucked right from Redon’s blue vase! Even if you aren’t crazy about floral designs, there’s so much color to inform your design choices! That’s kind of where I went with the polymer clay beads from Graceful Willow Beads below.
There’s something about Redon’s artwork that makes enamel seem like a no-brainer for me. (You’ll notice that I have several enameled choices this post.) The hoops below from Spurwink River Arts perfectly reflect the combination of the vase and background color-wise, while the millefiori look like flower blooms.
With as many floral art beads that I own, I didn’t have nearly as many options that fit as I was anticipating, but I still came up with some solid choices. My favorites from this grouping are probably the bright petal beads from Golem Design Studio and the strand of lampwork from Donna Millard.
Butterflies
Butterflies and other insects are my jam, so I’m so happy to have another chance to play with those motifs for this Art Journey! This is the most muted color-wise of the three inspiration pieces, but it does have that lovely sky to inspire us. Instead of some of the super bright and flashy butterfly beads I’ve gravitated towards for past challenges, including this year’s Art Journey One, I found a nice collection in a more subdued palette to show you all.
5) Suzie Q Beads 6) Spurwink River Arts
As you can see in the photo below, I mostly pulled butterfly beads and charms from my stash, but there are a couple that just all about the colors! Both Gardanne’s enameled charms with shades of sky and earth and the gorgeous painted wood bead by Summer Wind Art felt right to me both in color and in feel. I honestly can’t believe that I still have so many butterfly choices in my hoard… maybe it’s because I keep adding to it. Hmmm…
Here’s to happy creating as we head through Art Journey Four! I hope that I’ve given you some ideas to get you going… I know I’m more excited than ever to get back to the bead table and start creating. Click HERE to submit your creations for this Art Journey. Remember, you can enter as often as you like… the only rule is that you have to use at least one art bead or component.
