theory exam

2011-11-04

Comparative analysis:

Used the first option with the box pendant and the round one.

Pendant A is a box literally with a top and a bottom. The bottom fits into the top and the pendant can be worn with the top and the bottom together or apart. There is a little ball that looks like a pearl inside the bottom part, it can be seen when the top and bottom are separated. The pendant does not have a very shiny finish, it’s made from white- silvery coloured metal and it hangs from what looks like thin cord. Pendant B is also made from a white- silvery coloured metal and does not have a highly polished finish either. It is however shaped like a full moon with a tiny quarter taken out at the top. There is a ball protruding from there and a jump ring is connected to the top of the ball. It is through this jump ring that the pendant is connected to the chain which is a more solid looking metal ‘cord’ as compared to the one on pendant a. Pendant b is in one piece as compared to pendant a and both have a ball somewhere. Whilst the ball in pendant a has the appearance of a pearl and is soft creamy white in colour; the ball in pendant b has an almost glass like, marble like quality and is black in colour. It doesn’t look like metal to me so I would tend to think that the jump ring is stuck on instead of soldered. With pendant a however it looks like there is a hole in the ball and the cord which goes through the box around it is what connects the ball to the rest of the piece.

Hollow construction seem to have used in both pieces with the addition of doming in pendant B. Neither of them has the appearance of being intensely complex technical pieces. It’s not hard to try and imagine how both were made. Pendant a has a very geometric look, it’s all straight lines and sharp angles. I appreciate how it looks balanced regardless of which way it’s worn, its different that the bottom part fits into the top instead of the top fitting into the bottom and that the bottom is smaller than the top, but somehow it all balances out. The soft, curvy lines of the ball inside the pendant contrast very nicely with the outside. The curves of the cord from which the pendant hang also echo the curves of the ball, and the way the cord is very slender just gives it a rather feminine look which flows very nicely with the ball and the curves etc. Pendant b interestingly has a more curvy shape but somehow that doesn’t make it look more feminine. The dark colour of the ball and its size don’t throws off any sense of delicacy one might have had from the curved shape of the pendant. The thick cord form which it hangs also emphasizes this feel. It exhibits a bit of a geometric feel as well.

 I find that pendant a it feels like some sort of hidden treasure hidden within an outer wrapping that doesn’t necessarily reflect what is outside. The box shape makes me think of receiving a gift. Pendant b also has a ball peeking from somewhere but it feels more like a symbolic thing. The shape echoes a moon and the dark colour reminds me of a dark night, it feels like there is a deeper almost religious feel to the piece, like there is more to it than what you see ( also because of the its simplicity and the contrast in colours.)  The simplicity of both pieces encourages one to look and wonder more.

ok...pictures sorted:)

fig a- heart shaped locket
fig b-round pendant with stone

comparative analysis

Hi Mark, Im sorry I posted this late. Only managed to sort out my password now. Iv also had some trouble putting on the pictures. Fig a (first piece) is the heart shaped pendant and Fig b (second piece) is the round pendant with the red  stone.

The first pendant (fig a) is a heart-shaped locket seemingly made out of whitish grey metal and gold metal. It has a chain and a hinge to keep the two sides of the locket together and a screw-like bale.  The front is rather rounded and it has a rather random design on top, zig zags and dots.  The second piece (Fig b) is also a pendant and is similar to the first in that it is also seemingly made up of two different metals; a deeper gold than the first and  a warmer looking whitish grey. It is round and is not a locket and whilst it also has a design on the top, the design is more organized and symmetrical than the one on fig a.  It also has a stone set at the top   , a red stone, a cabochon by the looks of it set on some sort of upraised triangle. Both pendants have a boarder on them, one having an upraised one and the other a recessed one. Fig a has a rather smooth matte surface whilst fig b has a not as smooth surface with a dull shine.

Both designs have more than one metal in them, it looks like brass and silver in the first one and 18ct yellow gold and silver in the second one. The second one also appears to have some other deep grey metal. The red stone could possibly be a ruby. The design on the second piece of jewellery could have been etched or roll pressed. The design on the second one however looks like it could have been done by stamping. The hinge was definitely riveted at some point. Both pieces would be worn around the neck, fig a would hang from a steeper angle than fig  b. Both look comfortable but fig b somewhat give the impression of being heavier. This is probably because of the stone and its base. I daresay both would be comfortable to wear given the length of the chains they hang form allows for this.

Fig a gives off an interesting vibe that sort of contradicts, the little details such as the e chain and the screw-like bale, the hinge that has a very geometric mechanical just shout out steampunk. Then you get the organic shape of the pendant itself, all rounded and curved making the piece start to take on a feminine delicate look, the design on top- the dots and the zig zag lines carry on this feeling but somehow tie the shape and the steampunk details together. The zig zag lines are in the shape of half circles, the angles in the zig zag tie in with the geometric sense of the piece and the half circle shape blends in with the shape of the pendant. Fig b on the other hand almost completely gives off an organic, feminine feel with the all the curved lines it has and the flowing lines of the design. It feels like you suddenly hit a wall though when your eyes suddenly hit the very geometric lines of the triangle at the top of the design. It’s like a piece of the pie has been taken and used for something else,( the triangular shape set in a circle echoes this) Then your eyes continue upwards and see the circular shape of the stone and the shape around it. The piece starts to feel organic and circular again. The puzzling color of fig b hints at age but the top part done in stronger, bold, geometric lines feels a bit more modern. Both pieces exude contradicting things in different ways. The first one feels more successful, whereas the second one s tarts to feel like two things combined.

4rth term written assignment

Oscar Abba jewellery:

I find this refreshingly different, the designer managed to convey some sort of free sense that is obviously very planned. The fluid continuous feel of the lines blends in very well with the shapes used. Oscar’s use of silver; a precious metal corresponds very well with the idea of an abstract, planned piece. It’s interesting how the form doesn’t exactly conform to the strict shapes or at least recognizable shapes that jewelry so usually adheres to but it still gives the sense of being valuable and proper.   I like how the designer carries on a theme; how he has developed an idea. The first bracelet has folds that are not so much of folds in the word but they echo the shape of folds in the way the metal is wavy and bends at unexpected areas.  Then the second piece Folds 2 has folds that are more defined, the metal doesn’t just echo the shape of folds but it also actualy folds in some places. The third piece  aptly named Liquids continues the same sort of abstract theme with organic , fluid lines but in this it seems to me that the designer went even more abstract, more ‘out of the box’ he has the lines and the shapes and the folds going but he adheres to a less defined shape. I find it interesting how there is an empty space in the middle of the piece and the outside of the piece is where it seems the shapes and folds are...And it almost seems to me that the empty space in the middle is contained by the shapes around it. It reminds me of how water doesn’t actually have a shape but just takes the shape of the object/container around it.

It must have taken some measure of craftsmanship to bring out all those shapes and I can’t help but wonder at the level of accuracy and just how he did it all. There is an appealing contrast in the shapes used and the angles used; for example the first bracelet; Folds has very loose line and then 'organic right angles' in some places. The designer also managed to make his pieces appear balanced in spite of the abstract, wavy lines. Oscar’s designs are interesting and make for an interesting analysis I could go on J

2nd designer for June assignment.

2^nd Designer:

[1]Fritz Maierhofer:

Brief Biography:

Fritz Maierhofer; an Austrian Jeweller’ was born in 1941 and had his first introduction to the world of jewellery at 14 years of age in the form of an apprenticeship. He has since remained in the trade, expanding and accumulating knowledge in the trade. His designs have matured and acquired an identity of their own. He has evolved into an “artist-jeweller” who perceives jewellery as a means to send a messages and signals. He was among the first crop of jewellers who challenged the status quo of jewellery should look like in terms of design as well as material. I quote; “What is relevant and most important to me is the inner, really true value of the material I am using. It should show its true characteristics: a clear, provocative statement without any compromises. Tin is pliable, plastic colourful and gold as strong as steel. “ 1He has also won several awards and has had a notable number of exhibitions.

---

Fritz Maierhofer.

Tin and gold pendant

http://www.fritz-maierhofer.com/index.html

I like the movement in this design. The way the sheet of metal is looks as though it is unrolling is fascinating and different because we don’t usually think of metal as a material that rolls and unrolls. This repetition creates a comfortable rhythm; your eyes go around the top part of the pendant as they take in the rolled part, then they travel down to the gold tip. The texture used for the tin matches the roll, its smoothness blends in with the effect the designer is trying to bring out. In fact I wonder if Fritz in this design wasn’t trying to challenge our perception of metal as static and inflexible.  The gold point dominates the design subtly, the design leads to it, its different colour makes it stand out a little more than it would have if it were grey. There isn’t a lot of contrast in this design; the grey colour of the rope that the pendant hangs from just differs from the grey of the pendant in shade. I find that the pendant is not disorienting to look at due to the positioning of the various components and the arrangement of the lines. It would have been disorienting to have the roll leading to a gold tip above it. The roll gradually tappers till it comes to a point in the form of the gold tip, this again contributes to the rhythm and also influences the balanced appearance of the piece. The use of a consistent thickness of metal for the whole piece also contributes to the balanced appearance.  Harmony is present in the colours used as well as the type of line used. The material used is unexpected –tin and gold where one would expect silver or white gold, tin is a suitable choice for this piece due to its flexibility.    

2nd piece.

Fritz Maierhofer

      corian® ring in red

       http://www.fritz-maierhofer.com/index.html

          I found this piece rather daring in how it doesn’t necessarily look like what most would take as a treasured piece of jewellery. Honestly at first glance it looks like a piece of plastic that was cut and ornamented with a bit of gold. The red colour is very bold and its combination with that gold makes it even more so. The cut itself is also bold and unapologetic, the sharp, steep angles even more so. The sharp, long angle on the right and the gold cylinder dominate the ring. I think the angle is the more prominent focal point; the way it juts out way above everything else draws more attention to it. There is repetition in the type of line used and angles whether they are 60 degree angles or 90 degree angles. These give the ring a geometric look. There is a contrast in between the angles in the corner and the circle in the middle of the piece as well as the cylinder on top. Interestingly the circles and the angles don’t necessarily clash and look disjointed and I think this is partly because both the circle and cylinder are done with crisp, straight lines (not wobbly lines) so they blend with the geometric look. Proportion is also interesting in this piece, none of the angles are exactly the same, and they are similar but not identical in size and length. The “circle” in the corian is much bigger when compared to the cylinder. It feels as though the designer in this piece was challenging our perception through the design and the use of corian-a non precious material in such a bold colour., nothing is quite what one would normally expect. Even the ring is not quite normal,one has to wonder how one would wear it since there is no hole for the finger.I would tend to expect identical angles and a material more prized than corian.

3rd piece:

    

Fritz Maierhofer.

acrylic ring from the seventies

http://www.fritz-maierhofer.com/index.html

Variety is what first comes to mind when I look at this ring. It has such a myriad of colours and shapes and even materials to some extent. It took me a few seconds of staring to finally begin to dissect the various elements of the ring. Again the design is more geometric than organic; the strict lines of the circles the angles and so on evidence this. Dominance comes into play when you notice that the bright colours in the middle keep grabbing your attention, The rectangle with bright colours also acts as some sort of bridge; leading the eyes from this part of the ring to the next one. Thus the colours are contributing to the rhythm of the ring. The colours themselves are placed strategically; he placed side by side colours that blend in with and in other cases complement one another. The silver metal is a good choice in terms of colour because it is a cool colour as compared to the other bight, hot colours used. It helps to balance the colour aspect. Harmony is present in the colours used. I find the proportions of the various components of the ring interesting; the ring itself is smaller than what is on it, this makes me wonder just how comfortable the ring is to wear. Of course this also makes the ring look a bit unbalanced. Again the Fritz uses shapes with angles and shapes with curves, this means variety again. Harmony also comes in that the whole ring has a more geometric feel. The ring looks symmetrical and this helps it look a bit more balanced. I find this design peculiar, it jumps out to me a queer because it has a design that I perceive as queer. It’s a mixture of materials that are considered precious and materials that are not. Again questioning our perception of things…

Bibliography:

Designer's website: www.fritz-maierhofer.com

Klimt02: http://www.klimt02.net/jewellers/index.php?item_id=669

Images used:

 http://www.fritz-maierhofer.comhttp//www.klimt02.net/jewellers/index.php?item_id=669

Artist Statement:

Klimt02 website: http://www.klimt02.net/jewellers/index.php?item_id=669

        

June holiday homework-Klimt 02

June holiday assignment.

1^st Designer: Yong Joo Kim.

Brief Biography:

Yong Joo Kim is a South Korean Jeweler who lives and works in Providence, RI , United States. The core of her work is to produce beautiful pieces using normal everyday materials; mainly Velcro. She says, “My investigation of creation, innovation, and transformation questions the definition of value, and provides a never-ending field for invention.” I have found this claim to be evidenced as true in her work. She began her training in Korea at, Sook Myung Women’s University Seoul, Korea where she attained a BFA in Arts and Crafts in 2004. She later attained an MFA in Jewellery and Metalsmithing at Rhode Island School of Design in 2009. Some of her work is currently exhibited in museums; and she has received several awards and grants giving credit to her talent as a designer.

WORK:

1^st piece:

 

Yong Joo Kim
Neckpiece: Reconfiguring the Ordinary: Twist Looped and Linked 2011
Velcro
12 x 16 x 4
http://yongjookim.com/2011/

What attracted me to this piece is the number of principles it exhibits at a glance. Rhythm, balance, dominance, proportion and contrast being the outstanding ones to me. The neckpiece exhibits a wonderful sense of energy and movement. This is due to the way the ‘circles’ are linked at such differing angles and points. The designer achieved a pleasing rhythm with this placing. The way the neckpiece appears balanced is due to the way the designer placed the smaller parts of the neckpiece at the top and the bigger parts  of the neckpiece at the bottom. This appeals to our sense of what should be up and what should be down. Putting the smaller parts on top and the bigger ones at the bottom also serves as a focal point. I find that as my eyes take in the neckpiece, they are always guided back to the biggest part of the neckpiece. It sort of dominates the piece because of its bigger size. All this invites the viewer’s eye to make a complete circle around the neckpiece, increasing its chances of being perceived as beautiful.  I find that the repetition of similar shapes creates a pattern which is prevented from becoming boring by the use of contrasting colors in the piece. The designer uses a dark neutral color with a light one, the two different tones serving to accentuate the piece’s attraction.

2^nd Piece:

^{Yong Joo Kim
Bracelet: Reconfiguring the Ordinary: Rounded, Aligned and Twisted #2 2011
Velcro, thread
3.75 x 4 x 1”}

^{http://yongjookim.com/2011/}

Initially I did not find this bangle that engaging, I thought it was a bit boring due to the rather dull colors used the contrast in them is not being enough to suit my taste.  As soon as I forgot about that however I became rather fascinated with the direction of the components of the bangle. They are vertical with a slight curve at top and gradually change to give a sense of them going upside down. This creates some sort of rhythm together with the random but fitting rhythm the colors create. My eyes are continuously drawn to the point on the piece where it “twists” I like how the piece appears balanced in spite of the twist. The twist does not disorient my viewing of the piece but rather just makes it more interesting to me. I appreciate how in spite of the fact that it’s made from ordinary non-precious materials it looks like something I would purchase. Yong Soo Kim repeats the same basic rectangular shape to create a pattern that closely resembles sheets of paper pressed together. I find that there is harmony in the colors used due to their similar tone, the use of the same shape also contributes to the feeling of harmony. There is very little variation in the piece; the colors used themselves being the main evidence of variation.

3^rd Piece:

 ^{Yong Joo Kim
Broocht: Reconfiguring the Ordinary
Velcro, thread}

I like the strong sense of direction that this brooch exhibits. The radial lines that form the base of the brooch contrast nicely with the sudden vertical and diagonal lines in the middle. The unanticipated vertical/diagonal lines bring a welcome change of rhythm from the round and round and round again lines of the base. The curved top tip of the vertical/diagonal line dominates the piece. I find the curved top tip quite charming in how it almost starts to resemble an upturned tailJ There is very little contrast in colors which I think is quite fitting because had there been a striking color contrast, it would have been competing with  the contrast in direction. The infusion a lighter color (grey) keeps the brooch from becoming too monotonous. The way the vertical part is placed generally in the middle of the circular lines makes the brooch to appear balanced despite the contrasting directions. The way the vertical lines are closer to the bottom instead of the top, lends the brooch a sense of top and bottom. The brooch appears to be made of individually formed sheets placed together; their proximity to each other lends such a feeling of oneness, such that you perceive the brooch as whole and not separate components close together. I think this brooch does indeed look like a cute find, something that can become precious to the owner which goes with Yong Joo Kim’s claim of decomposing and composing an ordinary item into a semi precious item.

Bibliography:

Contemporary craft: www.contemporarycraft.org/The....Yong.../Yong%20Joo20%Kimpdf

Website: http://yongjookim.com/2011/

Klimt02: http://www.klimt02.net/jewellers/index.php?item_id=23278

Her blog: http://blog.yongjookim.com/

All images used:

Designer's website: http://yongjookim.com/2011/ 

Quote: Artist Statement from http://www.klimt02.net/jewellers/index.php?item_id=23278

---

Research paper 1

Research paper 1:

Designer: Linda Jones.

I will be analysing one of Linda Jones’ jewellery pieces in this Research paper. I will be discussing the various design principles apparent in the dsign and what effect they had on me.

www.wires.uk.com

I chose this pair of earrings to analyse because I find it interesting. It is not something I would usually choose to analyse so that makes this research more interesting for me. I usually like things that are matched 100 per cent especially in the colors used but there is something about this particular design..

Linda creates an excellent rhythm through her use of different colored wires which whilst they appear coordinated, are not identical. The bends consisting of angles, curves and twists are in different places for each wire. This creates some sort of continuity whilst the different colors keep the design interesting. This rhythm keeps the eye captive and it encourages the eye to go around the whole piece. I think the way these wires are bent at different angles and curves give the design an energetic feel.

The large stone in the middle of each earring, serves as a focal point. Its size, different color and complete difference from the wire make it stand out. It’s also positioned strategically, not in the center but not too much to the side either.  This allows the eye to sort of come to a rest.. The eye takes in the design, travels around the wires (whose very design encourages movement.) then comes to a rest when it gets to the stationery stone.

I find it interesting that whilst the wires in the design are not identical, they don’t get confusing to the viewer either. In their difference; they are somehow organized. There is a somewhat pleasing asymmetry to the design. All this in my opinion just serves to heighten the design’s appeal. It’s quite nice that the designer managed to create a pair of earrings with different colors, through a similar design. I think the different colors serve to keep the viewer’s interest a bit longer because you want to really see what it is that makes these look like a pair when something (color) that is usually used to achieve this has been discarded..

The components of the design (speaking of the wires mainly here) have been distributed evenly. There is a regularity in their irregular placing. It’s satisfying  to my eye because when I look at each earring individually, it doesn’t look as though there is a gap here or there or too much here or there. The wires are also of the same thickness. I find the design balanced generally, the components are not placed too close to one another or too far from one another at any point. I dare say though that it seems as though the wires in the earring with purple, blue and green wire are placed closer together that the wires in the other earring.

I like that the successful mixture of different colors in each earring, especially in the one with the orangish brown. The colors sit together quite well. There is some sort of harmony reached despite the fact that the designer used a warm color (orangish brown) with cooler colors- the green and silver. Even the more saturated of the stone in the middle doesn’t really upset that harmony. It looks like it belongs; it blends in.

I like this design for earrings and I feel like it’s quite a successful design, the only thing that makes me wonder a little is how the earrings would sit on someone’s ears…what angle they would be at and whether or not they would still look like a successful design but I guess that is only to be seen when one actually wears them and judges for oneself.. :)

Meet the designer..

Linda Jones

Linda is first and foremost a mum to two boys, then a jeweler. She got into jewellery in order to make a living when her marriage ended. She started off teaching jewelry making, using beads and wire at her local library in England where she still stays. She was born in 1958 in Mombasa, East Africa. She spent her childhood in East and West Africa and this of course had an impact on her development as an individual. The bright, artistic cultures of these people influenced her creative side. Thus it is not very surprising that she has ended up doing something very ‘arty’ after a long long stream of jobs; most of which were not at all art related. She is mostly self trained; however she has had some formal education in jewellery making. She did a two year Foundation Art Course at the London Metropolitan University in East London where she learnt some of the basics of jewelry making such as soldering and casting.

Linda Jones is also an author. She has published seven books on wire jewelley and bead work, one of which was a bestseller in its category in the United States. Her books include Wire and beads: Celtic jewellery and Complete guide to wire and beaded jewellery. She is someone who is up to date with the times and finds a purpose in what she does. Her latest book Making Beautiful Bead & Wire Jewellery, contains many ideas on how to make jewellery cheaply, which is what a lot of people are interested in, in light of the current economic depression. Linda also uses uses jewellery making as a therapy; she teaches physically handicapped people.

Linda cites nature as her main source of inspiration and this is evidenced in a number of her designs, however when she initially started making metal jewellery she was very inspired by handiwork from ancient cultures and civilizations especially Aztec and Egyptian and of course African. She usually tries to go with a theme when designing something. Some of her favored techniques are hammering to create different metal finishes on metal;( for example chasing and repousse) and she loves glass beads. However she wouldn’t really pick one technique or product as a favorite as she has found that different techniques and products are handy with each project. She confesses that her pliers are one of her handiest tools though:) I think one of the main things that drew me to Linda besides her beautiful work is how she doesn’t necessarily stick to one technique, product or color, to me this shows flexibility. She doesn’t  have a favourite color to work with either…it just goes with her mood. I like this because it ensures that she uses a wide range of colors which of course will appeal to a greater number of people.

Linda is currently working on an exhibition that will go on for three weeks in her home area in the UK. She loves what she does and wants to spread that joy to other people. She has a website on wire jewellery thus her work, books and DVDs are easily accessible.

Bibliography:

Wirejewellery. Linda Jones’ website.

Tabs used: shop, gallery and biography.

Web address : http://www.wirejewellery.co.uk/gallery.asp

[31 May 2011]

Beadwork Guild Interview: Linda Jones Feature.

Issue 46 July 2010.

No longer available online, contact Linda  at linda.jones@wirejewellery.co.uk  

Blogs: The WireWokers Guild and WireWorkers Guild

Web address: http://www.blogger.com/profile/00907309339947306481

[31 May 2011]

Bead TV interview: “ An Interview with Linda Jones.”

Web address: http://www.bead.tv/programmes_search.asp

[31 May 2011]

Cico books:

Web address: http://www.cicobooks.com/books/index.php

[31 May 2011]

 Beads and beyond interview :

Title of Article: Meet and Greet

Web address: www.beadsandbeyond magazine.com