Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ABS June 2012: Nighthawks' Missing Necklace

The Art Bead Scene Challenge for June 2012 features the work:

"Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper.



Hopper completed the painting in 1942. As noted on the ABS page,

"Nighthawks portrays people sitting in a downtown diner late at night. It is Hopper's most famous work and is one of the most recognizable paintings in American art."



* * * * * * * * * *
In designing my piece, 
I started from the notion that the woman in the painting was missing something.

She should be wearing a choker-style necklace 
with oversized beads
of a carnelian red color, ...




...but I also wanted to pick up the colors 
found throughout the painting, 
the dark greens and ivory-white in particular.


So I started with the red and worked my way from there!
Next to the red beads on each side are 2 creamy-white ones.
The first on each side is a large white with red specs, 
ceramic beads handmade by
Natalie Pappas


Closer to the middle are fossil beads of a very similar color and look, but smaller.
Separating each bead are copper accent beads, 
and in the middle, 
a copper bail.


Next, is the pendant part of the necklace,...



comprised of another of Natalie's beads on top
and a brass sunflower focal on the bottom.  


I left the center of the sunflower the light green color 
that matched Natalie's bead,
but the outside edges were turning brown, 
so I sanded the outside part, 
applied a darker green Gilder's paste,
then sanded when dry 
to let the brass shine through again and sealed.  
I did the same with the back of the piece.



The remaining part of the necklace is textile.   
Two types of cotton fabric, 
one with a raku pattern, one plain, 
and another piece of sage green silk ribbon,  
all 3 wound and knotted together.   

The end pieces are contained with brass clamps.
The pieces uses snap clasps in 3 locations.   
This enables the necklace to be worn as a choker, 
as originally intended 
with the fabric wrapping twice around the back of neck 
and snapped in place)...
or worn extended with its own snap for a longer look.




The final creation.

The missing necklace
from Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks."

Presumptuous?  Yes, but I hope you enjoyed my interaction with the painting as I created this necklace!   







11 comments:

Therese's Treasures said...

Hi Sharyl,
Wow you did it again another beautiful creation. You are right the Lady needs some bauble around her neck and this necklace would be perfect. I like how you made it where it could be worn in two different lengths.
Therese

Natalie -- NKP Designs said...

It's wonderful, Sharyl! I'm honored you used some of my beads to make this gorgeous piece!

Krista said...

Great idea, Sharyl! I love what you created.

Cilla said...

Beautiful! I agree! That lady in red needs some jewelery!

Tanya said...

That is just amazing. I had to look at the picture again and you're right. That lady is underdressed. :) I really like the way you have been using fabric and ribbon. That you can wear it two ways is just icing on the cake. :)

Sharyl said...

My sincere thanks to each of you! :-)

Heather Powers said...

I love how you revealed each part of the necklace before showing up the final piece. It made me appreciate each element of the necklace all the more. Great use of ribbon, it was an unexpected and successful end to a great design!

Malin de Koning said...

Such a great piece Sharyl! So beautiful, well balanced, and still so exciting. Right down my alley. Love it!

A Polymer Penchant said...

Ooh very pretty, strong colours but all the ivory and textile gives It a refreshing softness, nice!

Kristen said...

I think this necklace is stunning! The shades of green and red you choose go beautifully together, and I love the fabric. I also like how you used gilders paste.

Sharyl said...

Again, my sincere thanks to each of you! Your comments mean so much to me! I thank you for taking time to look and leave a note! --Sharyl