Art Bead Scene October Challenge – Autumn Beads

Tags

Art Bead Scene, Autumn, curved beads, earrings, handmade beads, leaf, magenta, OCT ABS, polymer clay, polymer clay beads, rust, ultramarine

With the new Bead category for the Art Bead Scene Monthly challenge, I dared to look at this month’s inspiration painting…

“Autumn” 1944 by Milton Avery
Oil on Canvas, 27″ x 35″

I may not have any beading supplies available, but I can still make some polymer clay beads!

I made a sheet of clay with blocks of colours from rust to cream and of course that magenta. I scratched in branching lines like the tree which I highlighted with white acrylic paint once I had folded cut out circles to form the beads. I also painted the edge of the beads with ultramarine acrylic paint to bring in some of the colour surprises of the painting.

I may have harmonised the colours too much. They don’t seem to pop as much as the painting. Maybe it’s because the bright yellow of the foreground is missing?

When I was finished making these beads there was enough clay for only two more smaller beads. Of course as soon as I have a pair of beads, I feel COMPELLED to make earrings.

They are pretty simple, but I only had my wire and those gold beads unpacked from making my Art Charms.

It feels really good to take part in the challenge again :).

ABS October challenge

Tags

art beads, beads, earrings, grey, handmade beads, OCT ABS, owl, owl earrings, polymer clay, silver

Let me warn you I’m over-tired and grumpy and my mojo is frustrated and exhausted. I’ve had a difficult month*, so my offering is mainly to prove to myself that I’m not dead.

Owl on Gingko Branch (Scops Owl Under Crescent Moon) 1915
Ohara Koson
Woodblock Print on Paper

Here is this month’s inspiration painting for the Art Bead Scene monthly challenge.

I made the owl beads from polymer clay using a mould I had made previously for earrings and coloured them according to the painting. I used some silver glass beads with a pattern that reminded me of branches. The earrings are quite sweet but hardly GREAT ART.

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*Some gory details of the month: my dad had a heart attack (he’s home now on medication). Our new baby is not growing (we spent a week in hospital, now trying to wean her but she will only eat fruit). She is also suffering from eczema and needs her hands held at night to stop her scratching. Older daughter and I have had a terrible cough with associated aches and pains (or maybe I’m just stiff from holding hands all night).