Saturday 16 March 2013

Inspiration

I'm always a little embarrassed when asked the question "Where do you get your inspiration?" because I know the expected answer is anything other than "Everywhere!" or "Dunno.".

The truth is, I rarely know where my ideas for beads come from.  I tend to sit at the torch with a handful of colours that I like, start playing and wait to see what happens.

I'm constantly revisiting Design Seeds for colour ideas (I'm subscribed to their feed so I don't miss anything!) but more often or not I grab a glass rod or two at random and just start to play.

There has been at one notable exception though.  Like many people, I have an account on Pinterest, partly because I like pretty pictures but mostly because I find it easier to find items I want to bookmark for future reference by scanning a page of pictures rather than by a text list.

I came across a few pictures of rocks and caves, eroded and shaped by the wind in Antelope Canyon, Arizona:

Credit: Ian Parker
Credit: Nick Melidonis
Credit: Andrea Peckl

"Ooh, nice colours!" I thought.  Then "It looks a bit like etched glass.".

Ting!

For the first time ever, a real piece of inspiration!  I even knew exactly which colours to use.  The next time I was at my torch I tried them and it all worked first time; Arizona Ombré was born:


In case you're wondering what it looked like before it was etched...


I think it's nice enough, but I do prefer the etched version.  It seems to highlight the graduated colours more.

Still, as far as being able to put my finger on inspiration, that's the only example I have!  I can't be the only person who seems to grab their inspiration out of thin air... can I?