July Art Bead Scene Challenge

Each month the editors over at the Art Bead Scene Blog choose a piece of artwork and challenge jewelry designers to create something using an art bead that is inspired by it.  For June they have chosen "Portrait of Olga in the Armchair" by Pablo Picasso.  You can read more about the artwork over on the ABS blog HERE.

Portrait of Olga in the Armchair, 1917
Pablo Picasso
Oil on Canvas 130 x 88.8 cm
Color Palette by Brandi Hussey

I didn't think I was going to have time participate this month, but when I looked in my stash and saw this little porcelain lovely from Nancy Schindler of Round Rabbit, I couldn't resist!  (Yes, I may have a design challenge addiction...but I refuse to seek help for it!)  I thought the color, shape, and floral motif of the pendant fit very well with the feel of the painting.

When I started pulling possible beads for my design, it quickly became apparent that I was going to focus primarily on the bottom four colors in the palette.  In addition to the greens and aqua, I threw in a tiny bit of the khaki color with one of my glass beads.  I used several different shapes and colors of Czech glass beads along with bloodstone, moss agate, Swarovski pearl, and TierraCast gunmetal beads.

I love how the floral motif echos the chair's decoration in the painting.  I picked the tapered rectangle shaped dark blue and aqua glass bead for the same reason... it reminded me of the shape of the flower and Olga's fan.  The gunmetal bead and fancy clasp from TierraCast also seemed to fit the feel of the painting and added a fancy touch.  I rounded things out with Vintaj arte metal chain and findings.

I was on a roll (finally) and really liked the way that the Swarovski pearl looked with the little aqua glass bead in the necklace so I decided to use more of those to make matching earrings!

If these don't sell next weekend at the Waconia Farmers Market, I'll be putting them up in my Etsy shop!