Frit-Happens !

Show & Tell => Artist of the month => Topic started by: Sarah on February 28, 2008, 10:23:11 PM

Title: AOTM March 2008 - Isabelle Andersen
Post by: Sarah on February 28, 2008, 10:23:11 PM
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I owe my whole journey in beadmaking to my friend Dianne. She told me
about a bead workshop she had seen in New York many years ago. The idea
had stuck in her mind, and she made it sound fascinating, so I started
looking around for websites featuring these beads. What I found amazed
me!! The more I saw, the more I wanted to try it for myself.


(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2299132578_2ed5c5511f_o.jpg)


In January 2006 we booked a day with  Ray Skene, where I produced the
usual pointy-ended, misshapen beads. Despite this, I ordered my
beginner's kit and set about adding to my Fugly collection. It was
impressive! A lot of Mapp gas later, and things were looking somewhat
better, although I still learn something almost every day.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2298336945_707484af4e_o.jpg)


I admire the beads of Andrea Guarino, for her organics and her sense of
colour, and Amber van Meter( Naos) for her amazing control of silver.
Teresa Laliberte ( Lavender Creek) for her amazing goddesses.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/2298337361_0992c0b37d_o.jpg)



My inspiration comes from nature, and the patterns created by water and
weather, growth and decay. I went to college as a mature student and got a degree in Fine Art.
Then I took photographs of plants and flowers for gardening books and
magazines, before finding beads and glass. That's when it all came
together. Ideas of form and colour, texture and light are all finding
their way into the glass. I love the sea, and the beach, and bleak,
wild landscapes.


(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2298336863_4a8238cb68_o.jpg)

I'd like to make more sculptural beads. That's the wonderful thing
about working with glass - there's always something new to learn!

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2298337275_154aa79a11_o.jpg)

I'm a bit of a perfectionist, but I'm a very untidy person; I'm
organised, but it's organised chaos! If anything of my personality is
in my beads, I think it's my split personality!  I like the random and
accidental reactions that can happen with glass, and I enjoy the
challenge of creating something fluid and organic, but tightly designed
and as beautifully finished as I can make it.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2298337025_1668c60ed5_o.jpg)


 I'm obsessed with reactive glass.I find the process of working with
silver and silvered glass fascinating.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2299132518_378954c7b3_o.jpg)


At the moment, I sell my beads from my website - www.flameandglass.com.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2298337429_6af08297a7_o.jpg)

And a final word from me. I'm sure you'll join me in thanking Izzy for all the work she has put into AOTM over the last year. Its good to see her on the other side of the camera for a change! Izzy is also a fabulous photographer and I recommend her photography website floragraphic (http://www.floragraphic.com/index.html) for more eye candy!


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