Painterly effect

Vicki B. · #1 2011-07-02, 7:04pm

This is going to drive some folks nuts because I don't want to post photos of others' beads and I am unable to achieve the effect myself, but here goes...

How do you achieve the painterly effect - done with opaque colors - sort of organic, but as near as I can see NOT using enamels. It's the lovely effect where opaques don't have a definite line between 2 very contrasting colors, but rather a whispy effect.

I think it might be from swirling a very hot bead, but there might be other things I'm missing.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

lindag · #2 2011-07-02, 7:42pm

I'd like to see a picture!

So, having no real idea of what you are saying, I think it might be enamel. I've done a technique that looks sort of watercolor-y. I dip a hot almost molten rod in enamel a couple of times and then pull stringer. You can use the same color as the base bead or use clear. "Paint" your design with the enameled stringer. Experiment to see how much enamel you need, different amounts give different effects.

LisaF · #3 2011-07-02, 7:52pm

Vicki - yes, show us a picture or give us a link.

JEK3 · #4 2011-07-02, 8:11pm

Most folks won't mind if you give them full credit or link to their post. If you're still uncomfortable, just pm them to ask if you can use their picture.

Vicki B. · #5 2011-07-02, 9:10pm

I was looking again at the Smircich booklet tonight and think it must be a heat and swirl issue - the edges of the colors that are moved/heated a lot seem to become less opaque. I'll fool around next time I'm at the torch. I usually use mostly transparents - or reactives, but it's time to play with opaques more. Thanks for the thoughts.

DesertDreamer · #6 2011-07-03, 1:45am

It's tough without a pic. But...if colors have similar values (light/dark) and are laid next to each other, then you can get a fade effect.

Speaking in Effetre terms here....pastel ink blue and pastel uranium yellow are similar in value. Stack them up together (maybe with periwinkle or whatever the regular green is called), and they do a respectable painterly fade. The ranges of lapis/cobalt pastel do the same thing, as does the range of reds or "corals." It's not so much a matter of color, as it is of values. This is where color theory really comes in handy.

An example would really help, though.

PerfectDeb · #7 2011-07-03, 2:06am

I know you said not enamels but I've seen that done by making a stringer with an opaque colour rolled in enamel

dido · #8 2011-07-03, 3:12am

Shards perhaps?
Blow some shards with similar colours and cover your whole base bead with it.

Angie's glass · #9 2011-07-03, 8:24am

I have seen beads done with strings, white stringer with a transparent color over the top.
then layer the dots from the stringer.

Kalera · #10 2011-07-03, 8:43am

For my organics I usually use large sizes of frit and a LOT of heat, to let the glass really move. Creamy opaque colors tend to spread and web, so those are my favorites to use... especially the Zimmerman opaques.

Vicki B. · #11 2011-07-03, 9:14am

Thanks so much all. You should see Kalera's most recent series using this technique on her beadwife site! Too bad Zimmerman is out of business...

Kalera · #12 2011-07-03, 9:23am

Thank you Vicki!

bshelle · #13 2011-07-05, 5:17pm

Try a clear rod dipped in frit, melted, dipped, melted, and pulled out.

Vicki B. · #14 2011-07-05, 6:00pm

Tried a couple yesterday, but not good enough to show because I made the mistake of using EDP and could not get it back to purple after all the shaping. But the other melting and moving worked pretty well - just junky colors...
I can tell I need to play more with all the jars of frit I have accumulated.

Thanks!