Joshua Tree Earrings
The desert southwest is one of my favorite places to visit. To me, the desert is both relentlessly harsh and remarkably fragile and beautiful at the same time. This dichotomy is intriguing and forces one to appreciate the history of this place and those people who are brave enough to remain there. Surprising green growth around the cool springs, and bright flowers sprouting from a cruel looking cactus plants make an indelible impression. On this trip, we covered large areas of Nevada, Arizona and California and I wish we could have stayed longer as I always do when I have to leave this part of the country.
I chose the name Joshua Tree for these earrings as the beginning of a new collection of pieces using the subtle colors of the desert, punctuated with bright accents. In my earring design, I try to capture some of the rugged feeling of the desert plants and their flowers. I cut freeform shapes from wavy textured copper and punched a hole pattern into each of the copper pieces. I applied a verdigris patina in a shade of faded green, not unlike the desert plants. The oval connectors have been wire wrapped with darkened copper wire and small beads of stone and glass.
Gloria Ewing
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I'm loving these Gloria!!!!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant - love what you've done to the copper pieces!
ReplyDeleteLove the wire wrapping on the rings and the perfect pop of color with the beads!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I love your beaded rings. I have that pattern in a brass texture sheet but have never used it--LOVE how evocative of water it is with that patina on it. I'll have to use it! The holes you punched give the metal pieces a lightness and echo the beads on your rings. Very nicely done!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful earrings! I love your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI think you have truly captured the feel of the desert. I too, have that same brass texture sheet (was using it for metal clay in the past, once in a while). Great texture to go with the design! For me, I see it as the waves in the sand, created by the wind.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous earrings Gloria!
ReplyDeleteI love the wire work and seed beads--a great detail!
ReplyDeleteYour earrings are awesome and being in the midst of the desert southwest I believe your earrings capture it's beauty perfectly.
ReplyDeleteYou are spot-on with your capture of this desert element. I can't wait to see what else you bring us!
ReplyDeleteLove what you did with these! The shape really catches my eye- and then the design on the metal and then I'm drawn to the color of the tiny beads at the top. Nice!
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