This week I felt like doing something challenging and the Etsy Metal’s Project Runway Challenge seemed just perfect. Jewelry artists of the Etsy Metal team have a long history of making jewelry pieces inspired by the episodes of the Project Runway. I’m not a member of the team but a I have participated a few times in the past because guest submissions are always welcomed.
The rules for this week’s challenge, which corresponds to episode 9.6:
Make an “avant garde” piece of jewelry using a work of art as your inspiration. If you have access to a child and want to collaborate on something, go for it!
I was going to use a child’s artwork as an inspiration but then I stumbled upon “Small Picture of Firtrees” by Paul Klee.
Paul Klee, “Small Picture of Firtrees”, 1922.
The color scheme and the assymetrical rectangles completely captivated me. I’ve always been a admirer of Klee’s work and now that I re-read a book about him, I clearly understand why.
He was a prolific painter with a brilliant sense of color and his art could not easily be categorized under any art movement in particular. Though his lines are very strong and the geometrical forms are dominant in many of his paintings, he also often incorporated plants, botanical forms and symbols in his work.
My first thought was to make an embroidery piece using a similar color combination with the one found in the painting. After hours of cross stitching, this is what I came up with:
It reminds me more of a Modrian than Klee but I guess this can happen!
Then I made the copper frame, which would hold the embroidery work and prepared everything for riveting:
The final piece, which is strung on a cord that I made by tearing and stitching pieces of fabric:
Soon, all the pieces made for this week’s challenge will be posted on the Etsymetal Blog. Looking forward to seeing all the entries!
Thanks for visiting!