Monday, March 1, 2010

Cerulean Sunset

Colour...it is something I have obsessed about from an early age. And it is often where I draw inspiration when beading.

The dynamic and clashy combination of cobalt and orange has been haunting me for a few weeks now. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I started other projects, but my mind kept wandering back to cobalt and orange. I had to create something. And 'Cerulean Sunset' was it.

We are treated to the most beautiful sunsets here in Western Australia. I never tire of watching the sun set over the water, Mother Nature always puts on the most glorious show. I wanted to capture a little of that magic in this necklace...the last arc of tangerine sun gleaming on the horizon, and the cerulean sky above fading into twilight...


I knew that getting the colour proportions just right was the key to the success of this piece. I hope I've nailed it.

It is a weighty necklace...the large cobalt fire-polished beads are 10mm across. Almost a whole strand went into this necklace!


For me, this piece was also as much about the negative space as the positive. The space between, as they say...


This is a detail photo of the reverse side of the necklace...it can be worn either way, depending on whether you like your orange BRIGHT or BRIGHTER ;-)


The clasp, in my usual style, is a continuation of the rest of the design:


There is so much fun in colour. I admire beadweavers such as Margie Deeb, Marcia DeCoster and Rachel Nelson-Smith for their fearless approach to using colour. When I grow up, I want to be just like them ;-)

Inject a little colour into your own designs...be bold, be brave! And don't forget to have FUN :-)

Thanks for looking, and be well!

18 comments:

  1. Hello Belinda,this is a very amaaaaaaaaaaaazing necklace... i like this colours ;o).... it´s beautiful that is so large.....and a very nice name for this wonderful necklace... wow... super!! kind regards andrea

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  2. Hello Belinda!
    This necklace is very beautiful!!! I like the colours and the lovely design!!!
    Kind regards
    Eveline

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  3. Hello my dear! Your work is wonderful! Wonderful! Soon I will have time to try to do something like that. Of course I'll have much difficulty. lol. Kisses

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  4. Thank you Andrea! Your comments are lovely :-) I'm glad you like the colours! This was a fun necklace to make in every way :-)

    Thanks Csikimama!

    Eveline, I'm so glad you like the colours and the design! I know it's not to everyone's taste, but I wanted to try something different ;-)

    Thanks Irene! You should definitely try it, what do you have to lose ;-) It really is a lot of fun to use colour in such a bold way. Quite liberating :-) Just pull out your colour wheel, and go for it!

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  5. Very, very beautiful necklace, I love it so much!
    Hugs

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  6. Thank you Anna! I'm glad you love it...it was lots of fun to make :-)

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  7. Hi Belinda. You nailed it alright. I love the matt blue beads. Also anything with orange in it and I am there. Beautifully executed. It is a piece of confidence. Love it.

    Nicole/Beadwright

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  8. Oh Belinda, very nice necklace.
    BOld choice of colors, but really good. Great job!

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  9. Thanks Nicole :-) I love orange too, it's such a happy colour!

    Joanna, thanks for the nice comments! It's fun to use really bold colours once in a while ;-)

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  10. Nailed it, hmm, needled it more like :). This is exactly what i see at night, just before the sun goes down. Very tropical and uplifting, Belinda. You inspire me to grab some other colours than the natural tones I usually reach for.

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  11. Thanks Bianca, I'm happy to inspire you to break out those coloured beads...have fun with it! My two year old daughter has a fearless approach to colour when it comes to crayons and drawing, so I'm just following her lead ;-) LOL

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  12. Hello,
    Your jewelry is very beautiful and I like your site. Do you want to exchange link with my blog? I have already put your link on mine.

    URL: http://beading-jewelrymaking.blogspot.com

    Contact e-mail: newbeadedjewelry@gmail.com

    If you like to exchange link, please put this title on your blog:

    Beading -Jewelry making


    Thanks for cooperation

    Bili

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  13. Hi Bili, I will put your blog on my list. Thanks for visiting :)

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  14. I think you "nailed" the proportions of color! Congratulation for such bravery to use the PURE , saturated versions of the complementary pair blue and orange. Just don't wear it on Project Runway!

    Margie

    www.MargieDeeb.com
    author of "The Beader's Color Palette" and "The Beader's Guide to Color"

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  15. Thanks Margie! It was a brave leap for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it :-) And no, I certainly won't be wearing it anywhere near Project Runway! ;-) LOL

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Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment!

B.
-xo-