Art Bead Scene's October Challenge

OCTABS Necklace, originally uploaded by Jill Palumbo.

This is my entry to the Art Bead Scene blog's monthly challenge.  This month they have chosen art by Hildreth Meière, a distinguished Art Deco muralist, mosaicist, painter and decorative artist. 
I loved the colors and details of the piece we were to use as inspiration for our design.

My focal beads incorporate the draping and some of the patterns of the original artwork.  I chose to make a symmetrical design since everything about this inspiration is balanced.  Polymer clay is the medium used with my original textured molds for the center focal, and I sculpted the others.  I used a mica shift on the reverse side and added touches and washes of acrylic paint after firing. 

Please visit hildresmeiere.com to read more about this amazing work of art.  I also recommend that you visit the Art Bead Scene.  It is one of my favorite blogs.  I try to make time to read their posts every day and each time I learn something new and am inspired by their ideas. 

Kate the Great

I'm dedicating this first post on my blog to the person who inspired me and encouraged me to start blogging, Kate of Organic Odysseys.

Kate is an amazing artist with a heart as big as her talent. She is inspired by everything in nature, and has a unique and imaginative way to help others see things in a new way.

Look at that corn bug for a moment and you will see that it is on a soybean leaf, head made of a soy bean, body of corn, wings of sage leaves? I'm not sure I'm right, but I had to stare at it and ponder... How did she come up with that idea? What inspired her to put it together like that? How did she choose those colors? When something makes me take a second, third, fourth look, I know it is something wonderful, highly artistic and interesting. Who could ask for more in a work of art.

Vist Kate's blog at http://organicodysseys.blogspot.com/

Kate is a full-time artist specializing in Judaic art and polymer clay art fashioned from organic produce. AKA Zayit Gale she has a photostream on flicker under that name for her Judaica items. These are found in almostARTtfacts.etsy.com. Her organic pieces can also be seen at OrganicOdysseys.etsy.com. Her vintage items and fabric art is for sale at polkadotsandals.etsy.com.