Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Bead Journal January

I finished my January Bead Journal Project! My first ever. Yay.
I really love this quote from Bette Midler. It's so true of life. My art is the sequins and fringe in my life and it gives me a path to balance out those tears of human spirit.
Above is a side view and below is an open view.
The green is flexible polymer clay by Sculpey. The quote was scanned in my printer, flipped horizontally, printed on a silicone baking paper and applied to the yellow Kato clay. It was baked, and while still hot, I applied liquid polymer clay and adhered it to the green clay.
I was going through old sketches looking for something to symbolize the tears among the sequins and found a sketch I did in 1967. I cut it up a little to give it some dimension and then applied a gel medium to adhere and seal it.
Above is an "open" side view.
I think the transfer was the hardest part for me, but I like the experimenting with different mediums. Most of all I like being able to express something meaningful to me. This past year from January '09 to January, 2010 has been hard, painfully hard, and this piece says it all for me. Nothing is black and white, there are smooth patches in with the bumpy roads; times we go in circles, there a rough edges that leave uncomfortable feelings, broken hearts, wounded souls, mistakes and hurts we can't undo, empty spaces, dreams lost.....but then, there are the moments that save us. Those little beads of joy, glittering sequins of love and a fringe full of life's moments of gratitude.

15 comments:

Rhonda said...

Well said my friend. I am so grateful you are in my life, I could use more friends like you.

Carol Creech said...

This is an amazing piece. It's beautiful! And so much more so because it is so meaningful to you. How wonderful to include the drawing you did years ago.
Carol

abeadlady said...

I love your combination of different media. Very inventive. I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Unknown said...

You captured life exactly with your words and I can see it reflected in your January piece. Wonderful work. Looking forward to your next one!

bubbygigi said...

Marlene, I'm absolutely fascinated by your piece. The different techniques that you've used are amazing. Your own comments touched my heart. I can't wait to see what February brings. Happy beading. Gita

Crazy Mama said...

it is so different than any i've seen...very unique! if they are all like this, at the end of the year you'll have quite a wonderful collection. very cool how you used the clay with the quote and the drawing inside. nice!

Marlene Brady said...

What great comments. They actually brought tears to my eyes. I can't thank you enough for the enouragement. - Marlene

Anonymous said...

A beautiful, imaginative, and wonderful one-of-a-kind project -- congratulations!

Marty S said...

This is quite wonderful! When I saw the piece started last week, I couldn't figure out what you were going to do with it. It's so much more than I could have imagined!
Marty S
Crackpot Beading

jacqui boyd alden said...

I must admit when I looked at it briefly I thought this was fabric piece so imagine my surprise to find its actually polymer clay! I wish I could be such an ingenious artist. This truly wonderful and I love the story background to the piece

bbdyevr said...

Marlene!
Absolutely wonderful...
all the color, the shapes,
the unique idea of (meaningful)
printed word and drawing, mixed
with the different beads...
Then all wrapped up
in a phenomenal piece of art...
one of a kind...just like you!
Congrats, my friend!
This is fabulous!

Robin said...

You've given yourself a powerful gift here! The insights, whether they were conscious before you did this piece or not, are well expressed both with your art and in the words you wrote about it. I had trouble imagining how you intended to make a folded piece, but it's a lovely way to add to your beading. Big kudos to you for this one!

Robin A.

Marlene Brady said...

Oh my gosh, all these warm, wonderful compliments are filling a void I have had for a long time. Thank you all. Robin, thank you for starting the BJP as this has been a cathartic experience for me and continues to be as I start February's piece.

Drea said...

What a fabulous quote -- and wonderful mixing of media :)

Magpie Sue said...

I didn't understand what you were going for when I first stopped by at the beginning of this piece. I get it now! Very cool, and very meaningful. You are doing an excellent job of integrating life into art and vice versa. My hat is off to you.