I have several 6-day workshops and retreats coming up in the next 2 1/2 months so my posts are likely to be shorter and less frequent as I scramble to prepare. Mostly, I’ll just be sharing what I’m doing.
Lately, I’ve been making sample canes for the workshops. I haven’t had much time to think about color schemes so I’ve stuck to the zinc yellow, cobalt blue and fuchsia palette that was already on my work table. I picked a picture of a Tiffany lamp shade for color inspiration. The colors in the picture were slightly desaturated, but I chose to work with the pure hues as I’ve been doing over the past few weeks.
These kaleidoscope designs were each made from 6 triangular slices of the same cane. I barely trimmed the triangles so these kaleidoscope designs are large – about 3.5 inches across. The designs were originally hexagonal, but I trimmed off the points to make them circular.
They are too large for pendants, but they would make lovely veneers for the lids of cans or on circular clay boxes. The different designs were created by pointing different corners of the triangles towards the center of the hexagon.
As I worked with this cane I realized I am thoroughly saturated with saturated colors. These designs are simply “over the top” for me. My brain is over stimulated. I’m so ready to move on to more soothing, less saturated colors. I can’t wait to see what they are. This is a good reminder to myself to work with colors that I love so that the process is fully satisfying.
These designs are trimmed down versions of the ones above.
Different colors dominate in each of them because different corners of the triangles are cut off of each of them.
I find them a bit easier on the eyes. They are just a bit over 2 inches in diameter, the size of my larger pendants.
Trimming the designs still further results in kaleidoscopes below. Now the three are entirely different from one another because each is made with an entirely different section of the cane.
amazing as usual !i love to see how colors change and influence the pattern in each canes ..so beautiful !
For anyone who has not been to Maureen Carlson in Jordon, Minnesota, this should be on your bucket list. It is a place to escape to a really wonderful place. A place reflect, create and become the artist you were born to be,
Thanks for writing Anna. I’ve never been and I’m so excited to be going!