If there's a direct influence for what I'd eventually like to achieve, art noveau would be it. The most famous practitioner of the style was of course Alphonse Mucha, but much less known was the fabulous art noveau architect, Victor Horta. (Much less known partially because advertising reproduces more readily than architecture, but the efforts via copyright to control access aren't helping. There was at one time a gorgeous coffee table book of his work, and some day I suppose I ought to spring for a copy.) But what little I've seen has stayed with me ever since the basic survey course, and that beautiful, floral, curvilinear elegance in 3 dimensional space (not a strength of Mucha's work, nor mine for that matter, as we both tend to be distracted by pattern) found in nature and distilled in Horta is what I'm trying to capture here.

Wire and beaded fantasy leaf. 5” overall, beaded portion is 3”. Assorted base-metal wires ranging from 19 to 34 ga, glass beads (largest 8mm). April, 2008.

These leaves are shown in the order made. Looking at the clunky wire work at the leaf tip, I concluded that I would be better off doing the same thing over and over, rather than coming up with new designs each time.

Wire and beaded fantasy leaf, 3-1/2" x 3” x 1”. Assorted base-metal wires ranging from 19 to 34 ga, glass beads (largest 6mm). April, 2008.

This proved to be a good decision, as there was still plenty of variation and opportunities to make mistakes learn something.

5" x 3-1/2 x 1-1/2" Beaded portion 3" long. Assorted base-metal wires ranging from 19 to 34 ga, glass beads (largest 10mm). Dottie is artist made. April, 2008.

5" x 1" wide. Beaded portion 2" long. Assorted base-metal wires ranging from 19 to 34 ga, glass beads (longest is peridot, ~11mm.) April, 2008.

The second and fourth ones are my favorites so far, but really I'm quite happy with all of them. They show a fairly reasonable balance between wire and beads. The next project, after I get a little more consistent, will be to incorporate more curliques, as in the tulip.

photographs & file created 7apr08.

Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.