Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Art Bead Scene: Kandinsky's Improvisation No. 23...

The prompt for this month's Art Bead Scene challenge is Wassily Kandinsky's Improvisation No. 23. Kandinsky, like Arthur Dove, Georgia O'Keeffe, and other early abstractionists, was a huge influence on my work. The idea of trying to capture the spirit – the essence of something and give it visual form and have an effect on the viewer was a profound concept for me. Kandinsky's seminal work, Concerning the Spiritual in Art was a real defining piece of literature in the development of my work and my approach to making art. So, I couldn't miss an opportunity to show my appreciation for Kandinsky and contribute a piece.

Above is an image of Wassily Kandinsky's Improvisation No. 23 from the collection of Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Museum of Art, Utica.

Since I've been pressed for time, I had to devise a project that was quick, but still held a lot of visual impact. I decided to create a chain out of shrink film and natural brass links. The multi-stranded piece also incorporates Keith O'Connor's ceramic rounds. It's clasped together with a shibuichi toggle from my family at Green Girl Studios.

Above are some close-up shots of the shrink film links in action. I really like the way that they look when held up into the light, allowing the shadows to add another dimension and addition movement.

10 comments:

Vintajia Adornments said...

An first glance the painting is really busy - lots happening. There is also lots of space and air and your necklace has captured this space perfectly. Love it.

peacockfairy said...

This is fantastic! At first glance I though "WOW what kind of beads are those?" I wondered if they were polymer, glass, or even maybe a cool stone. But shrink film!?!?! You do amazing things with that stuff!!!

SummersStudio said...

I love the light coming through your beads. I think I'd have to hang this one in the window instead of wearing it. Fabulous!

Round Rabbit said...

EXCELLENT idea!! Love the whole piece to bits!

Diana P. said...

Love how you used the shrink plastic. I know I still have some laying around my apartment. I think I may need to take it out again and play with it!

Azure Accessories said...

I love the painting...the colors, the lines, the curves, everything! :0)

Wow...your necklace is wonderful...at first glance I thought it was some kind of stone, but then I saw how the rings were attached and realized it was something entirely different...
Cheers

Jeannie said...

I think plastic and lucite get a bad rap. I love working with shrink plastic and Friendly Plastic. It's like working with a blank canvas.
You captured the essence of the painting beautifully in your beads.

Jill MacKay said...

Freaking beautiful! wow! Love this project! (and you!)
Jill

Andrew Thornton said...

Thank you Jill MacKay! I miss you much and love you too! You'll probably get sick of me when I'm out near your neck of the woods.

Andrew Thornton said...

Thanks everyone for your flattering comments and for all your support. I feel really blessed to be apart of community that is just so awesome. It really is good to wake up in the morning and make something and know that you have a community to communicate with and to share with and to grow with. So THANK YOU!