I've finished more beaded beads and a bezel around one of the vintage buttons.

Tension within a composition refers to the interplay of elements. In painting or drawing, it's the way objects or subjects interact with each other, colours blend or contrast. Tension is also affected by the manipulation of perspective. Lines in drawings also create tension, as they cross and diverge or play against the edge of the canvas.

Tension is defined in clothing or jewelry by the way it plays against the lines of the body. Sometimes designers choose to enhance the body, sometimes disguise or manipulate the organic shapes. For example, a designer like Colette Dinnegan favours lines that flow with the natural shape of the body whereas the architectural structure of an Issey Miyake garment reshapes the silhouette.

In my composition, I've thought about tension with the composition and also how the final piece will interact with the body. I intended juxtaposing disparate vintage elements. I wish to create harmony, so I will use beaded beads to resolve tension between the disparate elements through repeating pattern and colour. I would like my necklace to grace the collar bones and shoulders with flowing lines.
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This is the back of the beaded watch face. I've left the bezel open. I've had such a great response to this, people like the front as much as the back, that I've decided to design a swiveling bail so the wearer can choose which side to show.

You can see I've chosen circular forms, which I'll repeat throughout the composition. By repeating the circle in my composition, the eye travels along the whole piece, seeking out 'stepping stones'.

This week I've completed the beaded bezel on the watch face and some beaded beads. Look closely at the beaded beads, they have repeating patterns. This necklace will be poly-rhythmic; there is the circular motif and as you focus in on the elements that make up the over all design, repeating patterns emerge.

I'd like to touch on rhythm in my design. Humans love rhythm; in the beat of music, syllable stresses in poetry, prayer and meditation and even daily life, as we go about the routines that are productive and comforting. I think that the need to mimic heart beat, breathing, footsteps, eye blinks, is indicative of our response to rhythm. We seek it out in art forms.

Sometimes rhythm is symmetrical, such as the five feet of iambic pentameter, sometimes open ended and a-symmetrical, as in a beautiful haiku poem that allows you to use your imagination to extend the imagery and meaning beyond the brevity of the words. Rhythm is equally important in design.

I'm making a one of a kind piece of art jewelry and documenting it both here and on my Facebook page. I've chosen shades of amber and amethyst. The purples range from deepest amethyst to almost lilac. The colour range will give a nice blend of light and shade. The warm amber is a good counter balance to the cool amethyst. In the little dish are some of my favorite vintage bits: glass buttons, a watch face, brass buckle and for a clasp...a Victorian metal twinkle button.

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gallery-Vittoria/75565308496?ref=ts

Welcome to my new blog.

I live and work in a beautiful and inspiring part of the world...New Zealand. There's a lot to talk about, my art, my travels, writing (I'm a poet) and much more. I'm looking forward to the journey.