Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge: August

Well, I finally took the plunge and am participating in my very first Art Bead Scene Blog Monthly Challenge.  Here is the inspiration piece:

"Sunrise" by John “Jack” Savitsky (1910–1991)

I absolutely love folk art, and the color combinations in this painting are some of my favorites!  I am drawn in by the texture, colors and repetition that the artist worked into the image.  For more information on this painting and on the challenge, you can visit the Art Bead Scene Blog.

My interpretation of the piece is fairly literal:

I took the opportunity to work on my torch-fired enameling skills, and am pleased with the results.  This focal is my third attempt, as I wanted to get the colors just right.  In the painting, they range from delicate to bold, and I wanted to maintain the balance of the two like the original artist did.

I also wanted to make sure that the sun was the main feature of the piece, and that the pendant, as a whole, included the texture that almost tactile in the painting.

For the accents, I dangled small charms from the bottom of the pendant to represent the repetitive quality of the houses in the painting.  In addition, I wanted to add texture to the chain while still keeping it simple, so I added only three of my handmade enamel beads to it.

Take some time to check out the Art Bead Scene blog for their Featured Designer of the Week, who will be chosen by the editors of the blog. The one featured this week is EB Bead and Metal Works, and their piece is just amazing!