Helen Chalmers
My journey in glass bead making started in 2008, when I began working at Edinburgh's Little Bead Shop, for the lovely Gil and Emma Baird. I had never heard of lampwork before, but came across one of Emma's beautiful organic focals, and was instantly intrigued. I must have pestered her for information day in and day out (sorry Emma!). I was totally thrilled when I was able to have a go on her torch, resulting in some wonky fritty beads! Goodness only knows where they are at the moment, but I was so proud of them. A couple more sessions, and I decided that it was worth purchasing a hot head. It took me a while to save up, and my hothead finally arrived in December 2009. Here are the first beads I made on it (I think I pretty much burned through a rod of Aurae by accident :o )
(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4024/4325898806_beb6e402da.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/4325898806/)
the second 'set' of beads (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/4325898806/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
Apart from my sessions with Emma, I did the Glass and Colour course with Sarah Hornik at Di East's in 2010, which was a big turning point for my work. There's not really that much opportunity for doing courses up in Scotland, so thats all I have done so far, though I am very excited to be doing Claudia Trimbur Pagel's course at the Flame Off this year! I learnt so much from Passing the Flame as a newbie, and a huge amount of knowledge has come from Frit Happens. Some more beads from the early Hothead days:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2781/4422210625_764e975ef9.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/4422210625/)
Jellyfish at 10 Fathoms (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/4422210625/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4056/4406022702_9d97a563ea.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/4406022702/)
Urban Decay (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/4406022702/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
In terms of people I admire, of course Emma Baird is high up there. I love the work of Mindy MacGregor (Moogin), Claudia Trimbur Pagel, Michou Anderson, Kristina Logan and Suzanne Noordewier, to mention but a few!
My inspiration tends to come from buildings, cities, urban environments and architecture. I like to draw and illustrate environments which inspire me, and these drawings in turn influence how my lampwork turns out.
(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4151/4990928924_810f95036e.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/4990928924/)
Barcelona Door (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/4990928924/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
You are probably familiar with my degree show work, since it swamped my life for a few months in 2011. This was all heavily inspired by death and remembrance, particularly from Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5098/5403954989_2c7380657e.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5403954989/)
DSCN1864 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5403954989/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
Alongside all this organic work, the course with Sarah Hornik inspired me to play with all the pretty rods of colour on my desk, and I went through a bit of a dotty phase...
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5018/5413257902_efdd084eec.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5413257902/)
Seville (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5413257902/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5132/5418764844_006fe8fcba.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5418764844/)
Constantinople 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5418764844/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
It was a nice break from all the University work to play with such a fun palette.
(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4078/5433400808_a23e8352ca.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5433400808/)
Poppy Field 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5433400808/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5095/5466141240_8174c26885.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5466141240/)
Nolita (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5466141240/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
I guess if I were to have a signature style, I would like it to be quite illustrative as so much of my work is based around illustration. I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of stringer, so thats a good start! I have also been using a lot of enamel which I find represents my style of painting, but I have a long way to go yet!
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5187/5642766695_eac8131283.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5642766695/)
Inca (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5642766695/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
I suppose my 'brick' beads could be considered my style too :)
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5189/5618212927_936158720d.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5618212927/)
Wallflowers (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5618212927/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6225/6324722379_f5f21dc75f.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6324722379/)
Graffiti Study (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6324722379/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
Next I would like to tackle silver glass a it more, and I am planning on putting aside a few days to get my head around focals... I just always seem to come up with sets! Maybe this week, we shall see!
In terms of what I am most proud of, this ring was a part of my degree show, and literally caused blood, sweat and tears ::) I refused to sell it, but wear it myself all the time! Its glass lined with a fine silver core.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5201/5726074784_6eb78fc2f8.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5726074784/)
Subway Wall Ring (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/5726074784/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
I think (hope) my illustrative style comes through in my work, and judging by the number of different techniques and colours I have leapt through, my short attention is probably evident too!
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6194/6029083673_6876d02bc0.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6029083673/)
Think of a name... (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6029083673/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
Currently I am working on jewellery more than 'raw' beads, exploring glass as a wearable form. I would like to make more rings like above...possibly with less stress this time, if possible! I have been playing with form in stud earrings too.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6724596587_76f168c68d.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6724596587/)
Bratislava Stud Earrings (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6724596587/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6916281933_9f51e596ea.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6916281933/)
Chiang Mai Studs (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6916281933/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
And some necklaces, I just love how powerful an impact beads can have when they a strung together in large quantities!
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6797534955_61cd78601d.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6797534955/)
Rajasthan Necklace (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/6797534955/) by helenfchalmers (http://www.flickr.com/people/helenfchalmers/), on Flickr
You can see more of my work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenfchalmers/) and http://www.etsy.com/shop/helenjewellery?ref=si_shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/helenjewellery?ref=si_shop)
Thank you so much for reading this, I am so honoured to be chosen as AOTM :)
x