Friday, November 30, 2012

3rd Annual Challenge of Color Blog Hop Reveal


I've been keeping a little secret from everyone - I joined my very first Blog Hop challenge, and have been busily making beads for the last couple weeks to meet the requirements of the challenge.

We were tasked with taking a color palette provided to us by our fearless leaders, Erin Prais-Hintz and Brandi Hussey, and making something jewelry-like and beautiful out of it. Being my forte, I made glass beads. Here's the palette that I was given for my challenge:


The images used to create the palettes are from USGS's NASA Earth As Art photographs, topographical images of Planet Earth. For more information about the images, click the link.

So I've spent the last couple weeks making beads for this Challenge of Color and now that I have a handful of beads done I'm comparing them to the colors on my palette, but they don't match. This really drives home for me certain ideas that have been noodling around in my head for a while about glass, lampworking, flame chemistry, and my eyes.

While I was picking out which colored glass I was going to use to make the beads, I had the image above open on my desktop computer and walked back and forth from my glass supply to the monitor with individual rods of glass to compare them to what I saw on the screen. My monitor and my glass supply are about 8 feet away from each other, and I tried to just "remember" what colors I needed to pick but it was like as soon as I turned away from the computer my mind went blank and I couldn't remember if I needed to find an orange-red or a brown-red or a yellow-red or a blue-red. It's not like my computer and glass are in different rooms, right? So why couldn't I remember the colors?

After I picked what I thought were close matches, I sat down to make some beads, and I made 22 of them, using the colors in different combinations with each other. Don't get me wrong, they do look nice. They just don't match the palette very well. As a set, the colors I picked look great together, there's variety of hues but also a cohesion of "warmth" to each color, even the blues. The colors I picked in raw glass form matched closer, but the process of making the beads always changes the color of the glass slightly, and being as new as I am at this I still haven't learned what colors I'll get in the end bead in every situation. This is part of the reason I wanted to do the Challenge of Color: to learn how the colors of the glass rods change in the flame. It's a challenge for all lampworkers - the fact that the chemistry of the glass reacts with the chemistry and heat of the flame - and just 'cause you have a rod of glass in bright red, for example, doesn't mean you'll get a bright red bead. Mostly bright red ends up being dark, almost brown red. I'm currently in the process of trying to make "swatch beads" of every glass color I own so I can use the swatches to match to a palette I am trying to work with instead of just hoping I've picked the right color glass rod.

One of the other reasons I wanted to do the Challenge of Color was to practice just matching colors, period. For some reason I have a lot of trouble matching a color in "real life" form and I see on my computer screen. I think the back-lit quality of the color on the computer screen messes with my eyes. AND then there's the fact that sometimes I just have trouble matching colors at all! Especially when I have to walk 8 feet between the two colors to compare them. LOL

I enjoyed the challenge of trying to match the colors, but of course am frustrated that it didn't work out as planned, but ALSO am happy 'cause I used this opportunity to get a lot of practice making lentil-shaped beads, which is something I've been having trouble with. I used this project to just sit down and make lentil beads, over and over and over again. I'm really happy with my improvement.



So, finally, here's my submission to the 3rd Annual Challenge of Color Blog Hop Reveal.

Please remember to take a whirl around the other blogs that participated in this challenge. There's some beautiful work and very talented artists out there!

Erin Prais-Hintz
Brandi Hussey
  Rebecca Anderson
Kris Auderer  
Chrizette Bayman
Lori Bowring Michaud  
 Courtney Breul 
Lynsey Brooks 
Stephanie Buss 
Iveth Caruso 
Shannon Chomanczuk
Lisa Cone
Cece Cormier
Lori Dorrington
Dawn Doucette
Jeannie Dukic    (life threw her a curveball, spread some sunshine to her anyway!)
Kim Dworak
Beth Emery
Janice Everett
Pam Farren
Donetta Farrington
Gloria Ferrer

Posted by Aimee Moisa at 10:35 AM

34 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 30, 2012 at 11:47 AM

    Lampworking is a mistery science for me, I usually enjoy the final result and your beads look great!

    Ambra

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    1. Aimee MoisaNovember 30, 2012 at 1:33 PM

      Thank you Ambra! I "followed" your blog, you look like you have some cool posts in there, can't wait to catch up. :)

      Delete
  2. Jess GreenNovember 30, 2012 at 1:19 PM

    Wouldn't have guessed you were so new to the cradt, the beads are lovely, I'd be happy to get my hands on them any day!

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    1. Aimee MoisaNovember 30, 2012 at 1:38 PM

      Thank you Jess! I'm not "new new", really. I started in 2005, but only worked at making beads for about 20-30 hours from 2005 through 2007, then took a long break and got back to it in 2011. So, I guess I've been doing lampworking regularly for about one and a half years now. Even more so in the last three months.

      I really liked the piece you made for the Color Challenge, that beautiful green focal is TDF! :)

      Delete
  3. aneri_masiNovember 30, 2012 at 2:13 PM

    Lovely beads, and such a fun lesson in color matching for you. So is it that the color darkens during the process? Nonetheless, that's a LOT of work you did for this challenge, with beautiful results.

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    1. Aimee MoisaNovember 30, 2012 at 2:26 PM

      Thanks you for the compliment!

      And yes, while lampworking, the color of the some glass darkens slightly during the process, and in some glass the color changes altogether.

      Delete
  4. re-makerNovember 30, 2012 at 4:38 PM

    Congratulations on joining your first blog hop, be careful, they're addictive!

    I love the beads in your bracelet, they're beautiful.

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  5. The Crazy Creative CornerNovember 30, 2012 at 4:50 PM

    Y'know, we're always our own worst critics. I understand what you're saying about the color reaction to flame, (not that I'm a glass maker) but I think you're a lot closer than you realize. Take into account, too, that everyone's monitor shows a slight color variation so no one's going to be exact. You did a beautiful job and it matches more than just fine!

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  6. AnonymousNovember 30, 2012 at 5:10 PM

    I find the colors shown on my monitor change with the angle of my vision.....different when I am standing to when I am sitting. I can't imagine trying to match glass colors in this manner. I've seen lampwork done in person and though the artist makes it look easy, its definitley not I think your beads are wonderful!

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  7. Patti VanderbloemenNovember 30, 2012 at 5:32 PM

    Boy, you certainly are HARD on your self - I think the colors of your beads are fantastic and perfectly match the inspriration piece! I think it is a great idea to make "swatch" beads, as you call them! Beautiful job!

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    1. Aimee MoisaNovember 30, 2012 at 6:50 PM

      Thanks for the feedback. When I wrote this it didn't sound like I was being hard on myself, just explaining why the colors of the beads don't match the palettes. To me, on my monitor, they're very much darker than the palettes. Just sayin'. :)

      Delete
  8. JLYNNJEWELSNovember 30, 2012 at 7:28 PM

    Love your color palette but LOVE your handtorched beads even more <3 JLynn

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  9. TanyaNovember 30, 2012 at 7:44 PM

    I *love* your beads and the colors work so well together. They may not match perfectly to the colors, but I can tell the colors that inspired them and I think you did a wonderful job with the palette.

    Colors are so hard to see in the digital world. They differ from monitor to monitor and even look different on my ipad than they do on the desktop.

    Don't be too hard on yourself. I think you met, and exceeded, the challenge. I know those beads will make something wonderful!

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  10. MaplegirlNovember 30, 2012 at 8:37 PM

    I agree with you about keeping the colors in your head, and then your perception as you look through other colors - challenging. I printed out the colors, so I could gather my beads and match them under a good light. It is the learning about colors and the inspiration of putting colors together that is the goal of this challenge, and you met it for sure. Andrea

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  11. AnonymousNovember 30, 2012 at 9:24 PM

    Oh how cute!!! Love the tiny leaves/flowers on the beads they really carry that oasis feeling! Well done!!!

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  12. AnonymousNovember 30, 2012 at 10:35 PM

    Great work!

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  13. Brandi HusseyNovember 30, 2012 at 11:51 PM

    I think your beads are lovely! I'm always so impressed by bead designers making their own beads. I don't know the process that goes into lampworking - I only play with the end result - but I'm glad that if nothing else, it provided practice time! Your lentils look fabulous.

    And as for the colors, it's tricky. I just wrote up a color theory post about colors and perception this week, so it's definitely on my mind! But you're absolutely right - sometimes looking at colors on a monitor can be very deceiving. Part of that is just the nature of the monitor - things can look brighter or darker depending on your screen's brightness and if it's been calibrated or not!

    The other part is how those colors are made. Colors on any computer screen are made with light, while your lampwork beads are made in fire. Two different methods to making the colors, so it makes sense to me that it'd come out different. Actually, I'm such a color nut that I'd love to see your glass swatches when they're done!

    Anyway, bravo to you for all of your hard work for this challenge! Thanks for playing along!

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  14. Caron MichelleDecember 1, 2012 at 5:26 AM

    This is so sweet! I love love love the lampies! What a gorgeous bracelet!

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  15. Ema KilroyDecember 1, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    Great work and perseverance on your part. Your bracelet is beautiful. I find these color palettes so very inspiring!

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  16. Mary K. McGrawDecember 1, 2012 at 10:08 AM

    I think your lampwork beads reflect the soul of the color palette and that is the best we can do. Your bracelet is wonderful.

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  17. UnknownDecember 1, 2012 at 12:16 PM

    I adore your beads - they are stunning! Really, really special. The bracelet is beautiful. This was also our first challenge and we had sooooo much fun - will not be our last.

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  18. glòriaDecember 1, 2012 at 12:50 PM

    Fantastic job! Your beads are really nice. You are such a great artist!

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  19. lamplight craftsDecember 1, 2012 at 10:33 PM

    Your beads are so pretty and spring like.

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  20. EB Bead and Metal Works, LLCDecember 2, 2012 at 9:37 AM

    Wonderful job and way to keep going :) Love the process of how you made your beads.

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  21. Michelle TuckerDecember 2, 2012 at 9:37 AM

    Your beads are just lovely! I feel your pain when it comes to matching colors from glass rods to final product. It's amazing how a little bit of heat can totally transform the color of the rod you initially thought you had. The finished beads and bracelet turned out beautifully! Great lentils!

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  22. EmandaJDecember 2, 2012 at 4:46 PM

    What great beads and bracelet. Great interpretations of the color palette.

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  23. DonettaDecember 2, 2012 at 6:06 PM

    I think "matching" is overrated, and you did a wonderful job of incorporating all the colors of your chosen palette. Your beads are beautiful, as is the finished bracelet!

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  24. UnknownDecember 2, 2012 at 8:10 PM

    Love your beads, your palettes were gorgeous.

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  25. Adaptable Kay December 2, 2012 at 8:32 PM

    Wow, you certainly went all out for your first challenge! Making the beads for your design and everything ^.^

    It's wonderful when things like a simple challenge like this force your hand on things like making you practice making something you needed practice with.

    I like the think these things happen for a reason!

    Anyway, I think your piece turned out incredibly! You're truly a talented glass artist and jewelry designer :)

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  26. A Polymer PenchantDecember 2, 2012 at 9:45 PM

    I love hearing about your process! You certainly used this challenge as a great motivation to work through these little demons of colour. Beautiful result

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  27. TesoriTrovatiDecember 3, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    When I was a teacher I would assign all sorts of long involved projects. At the end they would get a grade for providing something finished, no matter the outcome. But what they were most heavily graded on was the letter they wrote to me of what they learned. That part was always the best for me, because they had insights into the process - and into their own psyche - that I would never have comprehended. I would say that you get an A++ for not only creating a gorgeous bracelet, but using this time to perfect a skill and for using this Challenge in the true spirit of its name. Thank you so much for sharing your process and your product with us! I enjoyed hopping with you! Enjoy the day. Erin

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  28. KayzKreationzDecember 3, 2012 at 10:12 PM

    Even though you don't think they match very well, I love your bracelet. I sooo wish I could make lampwork beads, but fire and I just don't get along. Lovely palette and bracelet.

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  29. Monique (A Half-Baked Notion)December 4, 2012 at 8:53 PM

    I'm trying to finish my visits, Aimee! It was interesting to read about all the considerations that went into your project. I think, partly at issue here for you, was the distance we sometimes encounter between the creative vision we hold, and the technical aspects of interpreting that vision.

    While I don't do any medium involving an open flame (too mesmerizing LOL), even in my chemically stable polymer clay universe, I still get surprised. But I am learning to enjoy the ride and the unexpected boo-boos/discoveries. I'm sure you'll enjoy the journey, too!

    Your beads are beautiful, both what you made for this Challenge and your shop (I peaked), so you must be a quick "learner", Aimee. I think your idea of making sample beads will give you a great resource for future work.

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  30. AliceDecember 17, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    Well I'm a sucker for handmade lampwork beads, and yours are lovely! And eventhough you were not happy with the colors matching the palette, the bracelet is gorgeous!! And that's all that matters.

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