My answer to the January monthly challenge, posted by the web site Art Bead Scene: a Peacock ornament!

Inspired by the 1940 painting, Black Peacocks with Japanese Persimmons, by Jessie Arms Botke, my ornament is meant to reference many of the painting’s design elements.

 

I began with one of my handmade Peacock beads and one of my ceramic heart components featuring a fern design. The painting shows ferns in the foreground, so I thought this would be an appropriate choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finished the back of the ornament with a liquid gold leaf finish.  The painting also incorporates gold leaf, so I thought this was another nice tie-in with the added benefit of giving my ornament a unique, finished look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After putting the Peacock together, deciding on a single turquoise tail feather and 2 transparent purple wings, I assembled the ornament in a similar manner to my usual bird ornaments.

 

Then I added another element from the painting, the lavender bell flowers. To do this, I wire wrapped 2 of my flameworked bell flower beads, created in shades of transparent purple and blue, and added them to the jump ring holding the ceramic heart. After adding a transparent olive green glass leaf, I felt that the ornament was complete.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Art Bead Scene for the inspiration, I’m really pleased with the result!

 

See more on these other wonderful blogs!