The Evolution of Ophelia - the Creative Process

Ophelia

by

Odilon Redon

The June Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge. 

For more information

and to see this month's entries

Click here.

When I first saw Ophelia, I was immediately attracted to the colors in the painting.

I knew that within the palette of colors,

I would find the passion that this painting inspired.

As you know,

I make lampwork glass beads.

That is my passion.

As you also know,

I am away from my home for about another month

and 

that I cannot make lampwork beads now.

I have had to find other means of creative expression.

One of those means is

polymer clay.

I love using homemade beads and components!

So,

looking at the colors,

I began to make polymer clay beads using my favorite colors in the painting.

I made these beads for accent.

I made this bead to be a focal with a more modern interpretation of the use of colors in the painting.

I used the funky focal.  Added glass pearls to go with the butter colored beads.

I even found some butter colored chain, which I loved!

I added some tin discs to contrast with the butter.

This was version 1 of Ophelia.

I took the pictures, and I even wore it.

I liked the look, 

but

it

bothered me.

I didn't feel I captured the passion of the painting.

Back to square one.

I put the painting on my desk top;

I kept looking at it.

Then, it hit me!

The colors!

There wasn't enough of the gravely, gray blue on the other edges of the photo.

Enter more polymer clay.

Bazinga!

When I make lampwork beads,

my favorite beads to make are discs.

Passion.

Gray blue gravely texture,

well, that didn't work exactly as I had hoped, but I did love the marbling in the discs.

Polymer clay is such a different medium,

but I am learning some of the basics.

Even though the color and texture weren't exactly what I had planned,

I do believe in creative accidents.

These discs were very much so the

creative accident.

I made some copper wire beads to capture the markings of the colorful orange flowers at Ophelia's neck.

Took apart Version 1 of Ophelia.

I added a second layer to the discs and beads that I made.

The butter colored chain, glass pearls, and the tin discs were included.

 Now,

I'm happy to say,

I love Ophelia v 2.

So, tell me,

What do you think?

 

Ophelia Evolved!