Informative
Inspiration for bead weaving, how and where to find it.
Dec
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Need inspiration for your bead weaving? In the tapestry world, Fiber Tapestries are more well-known than bead tapestries. And even so, Fiber Tapestries are not as well-known as they were decades ago. However, Fiber Tapestry Artists today are doing an amazing job teaching and promoting this art form.
There was a time when tapestries covered walls of prestigious homes and recounted stories and myths from ages untold. I have been very fortunate to see some of these tapestries up close in person.
First, in London at Hampton Court Palace, where …
The 50 or so tapestries at Hampton Court Palace rank among the earliest and most important works of art in the Royal Collection and include the outstanding “Story of Abraham” set made in Brussels for Henry VIII.
Royal Collection Trust.
This is a photo of the tapestries hanging in the Great Hall at the Hampton Court Palace.
Believe me when I say the photo does not do them justice. They are very hard to photograph to begin with!
The colours of the threads have faded a bit over time, even so… up close the sheer skill of the tapestry weavers boggles the mind.
To learn more about The Hampton Court Tapestries you can go to these websites:
At the Vatican Museum in The Gallery of the Tapestries or Galleria Degli Arazzi, I saw some breathtaking tapestries. Some of these tapestries are designed by Raphael Sanzio.
Raphael is considered to be the most significant painter of the Renaissance, or possibly of any period. He also just happens to be one of my favourite artists.
The most spectacular of Raphael’s tapestries for me is “The Resurrection of Christ”. If you gaze into the eyes of Christ as you keep walking you will find that through illusionistic methods it appears that Christ’s eyes follow you as you walk down the hall.
You can find out more about these spectacular tapestries at:
Gold and other metals were once woven into the tapestries. What awe-inspiring work. The sheer skill and time needed to produce work of this caliber boggle the mind.
I had the chance to take a look at the tapestries close up but neglected to take a photo of one very important detail. I was too busy with my Aha moment. The tapestries were worked in pieces! Not that you could tell by looking at them and not knowing what to look for.
This brought a lot of ideas to my mind and inspirations. One of which is a collaborative effort of several large-scale bead weavers coming together and beading something huge, something spectacular.
Maybe someday.
Do you think perhaps history will look back and say the same thing about our bead-woven tapestries?
I hope so.
So tapestries inspire me…. read on to find out how you can be inspired.
Inspiration for bead weaving
Why do we need to be inspired?
I don’t know about you but when I am inspired I feel this drive to create! But I have to admit, it is mainly with beads.
When I am inspired, I feel as if my ideas and visions are just waiting to materialize. That is when I am encouraged to create large pieces, even though the thought of it might be daunting sometimes.
It really is no different than beading several small pieces instead of one. The size of the project does not faze me, I have devised methods and techniques to deal with this. I even have devised methods to deal with finishing all those warp threads.
It just takes time, and maybe a bit more patience but it is so very rewarding.
What inspires us to weave large bead tapestries?
I’ll answer this question with another question…
What inspires an artist to paint large paintings? Granted some of the greatest paintings are commissioned, but the artists imbue them with their talent and vision.
Sometimes inspiration comes from loving the image or photo I am translating into tapestry form. It could be the colors, it could be the subject or even the feelings the image invokes.
It really is that simple yet gives so much pleasure to see it progress and be revealed bit by bit into the final tapestry. I’m also inspired by the colors and the finishes on the beads themselves.
I love beads, I truly do. I love everything about them. The diversity of colours that they come in, the different feel and look of the finishes, and the way they reflect or absorb the light.
Not to mention the meditative process of bead weaving itself. They are tiny pieces of precious jewels, that inspire me to create.
When inspiration hits…
Follow it. It is that simple. You never know where it will lead you.
Here is where it led me.
I had the inspiration to make an altar cloth (shown above).
This was the second beaded piece I have ever created.
Here are some details of the creative process:
– I had very little access to beads, let alone colours and finishes.
– I could only find size 8/0 generic beads and only in 12 colours (Being overseas at that time).
– It was made in 7 separate panels and then joined together.
– It is a Slat and Velcro look and feel which is strong enough to hold up all 10 kg of beads amounting to the weight of the tapestry.
– It was woven on a DIY (Do it Yourself) loom with no tensioning mechanism! Just warps wrapped around pegs at each end.
The point I am trying to make is that even with less-than-par materials, something can be made. Granted it does not compare to the tapestries of Hampton Court Palace or the Vatican Museum, but it is something that I made myself.
It is not the most detailed and intricate tapestry but as far as beaded tapestries go it is huge.
Does anyone know what is the largest beaded tapestry ever made?
How to find your Inspiration?
So let’s talk about the practical and actionable steps on how to get inspired. Look at photos of bead tapestries Look at photos of completed tapestries that inspire you.
There are lots of talented bead-weaving artists, however, the majority tend to weave smaller pieces. Even then, the pieces are done in peyote stitch, not on the loom. They are still beautiful works of art though.
What appeals to you?
I love Renaissance art and I’m starting to get into more modern and abstract art.
What captivates your attention?
Think about it.
Gather photos of it.
You could visit online galleries and museums to get inspiration.
If you have a favourite artist why not look at their body of work?
Please remember to ask the artist for permission before using their artwork in your designs. Be prepared they may refuse your request or ask that you purchase the right to use the image.
The Sistine Madonna.
By Raphael.
This painting is where the popular cherubs come from.
That’s them right at the bottom of the painting!
The two cherubs from this art piece are universally recognized as the best angels ever drawn, and they are from the renaissance era.
Here are a bunch of photos to show how art is used in different ways today.
Makes one wonder what those cherubs are thinking!
Local artists and art shows can be an inspiration too!
Look for their catalogs.
The takeaway from this is that you can select part of a painting, a photo, a mural, a statue… anything that inspires you…. and Weave it BIG!
And that is just what I have done… here are some photos.
You can even have a look at the steps it takes to create a bead loom tapestry on the Creative Process Page, featuring this same tapestry!
Should you like to purchase the Raphael’s Thinking Angel Pattern and make this tapestry yourself, it is available in the shop, in both loom and peyote stitch (in one pattern package).
Do you love photos of Nature & Wildlife?
You can find amazing photos for inspiration online or take them yourself. Photos of nature and wildlife are great. I’m partial to the little cute baby animals, but I like the autumn leaves, beautiful beaches, majestic mountains…
This Stellar Sea Lion for example speaks to me, maybe in a more literal sense, you could almost hear it say “Oh. Hi there!”
Do you like geometric shapes and patterns?
I do not advise geometrical shapes in bead weaving as sometimes they can be very difficult to translate into beaded form.
The lines don’t turn out very straight on a diagonal, and curves are sometimes not well-defined.
Having said that, I have to admit geometric art really does have an appeal. Take this one, for example, called Geometric Graffiti and made by Toxyl on Deviant Art.
Take this one for example, called Geometric Graffitiby Toxyl on Deviant Art.
Do you link Monochromatic Paintings?
A Monochromatic painting is defined as:
Monochromatic paintings are normally single color scheme paintings depicted using numerous tints of a single color ranging from extreme light to extreme dark tints of that hue.
Online Encyclopedia
My favorite color is blue so this artwork by Monochrome Blue by Aviaku On Deviant Art appeals to me.
Browse Digital Artwork
Deviant art is a great place to look at the work of digital artists.
Have a look there, there is some serious talent!
Be sure to check the copyrights.
You might need the permission of the artist to use their artwork and transform it into a tapestry
Paint or Sketch it Yourself
If you are blessed with the artistic talent to draw and paint something then why not do that?
I admit to not having that particular skill. I so very much wish I did.
Take photos
Most of us have our phones with us almost all the time.
Why not take snapshots of things that interest you, and things you find to be beautiful?
The cameras on our mobile devices have improved so much technologically, and you are bound to shoot a photo that you love.
And even when it is just not quite right, you can tweak it to your liking.
Questions to ask yourself
- What do I like?
- What moves me?
- What speaks to me?
- What appeals to me and why?
- What would I really love to create?
- What painting have I always loved and felt drawn to?
- What would I love to have in my home and on my walls?
Gather your inspirations
You can organize your inspirations in several ways.
My advice is to find a way that you are comfortable with and that you will stick with. That way you will be more likely to keep it up.
Here is how you can organize your inspirations or ideas:
- You could keep a journal and record your inspirations and ideas
- You could keep your digital inspirations in a folder or organized in separate folders if you prefer
- You could keep a Journal app on your mobile device and keep track of your inspiration there.
- If you are looking on Pinterest, set up an Inspiration board and keep all of your inspiration pins there.
- You could save the posts that you like on Facebook under inspirations
There are so many different ways to do this, find a way that works for you.
What’s the next step?
For ideas on what to do next, read my next blog.
Looming Large Tapestries – What to Consider?
It will give you several suggestions on how to get started on the next step of your journey… Bead weaving large tapestry pieces on a loom.
If you would rather have someone else design your tapestry for you, we do offer this service. Go to Request a quote for a Pattern, enter your details and upload your image.
We will provide you with a rough rendition of what your pattern would look like as well as many other details such as number of colors and what you can expect in your pattern package.
If I could add more than 5 stars on the service I have received on the making of my pattern I would!! Nedal did an amazing job on creating my pattern and she has been so helpful throughout my entire project. I will definitely be using her services for many more patterns to come. The colors she chose for my pattern are perfect! Don’t hesitate to allow her to create your pattern. Thank you, Nedal.
I came across Beading Treasures quite by chance. Saw Nedal’s beautiful work in a group and followed the link. Over the 50+ years that I have been on Bead Planet, I’ve admired, met, worked with, and been in awe of many bead masters. Beading Treasures is in that neighborhood. Since that first click into her world, Nedal has designed 2 custom tapestries for me, with many more to come. Very professional, patient, affordable, and a great eye for detail with techniques and color. (I can’t stress patient enough as I am very particular.) Thank You Nedal!!
Last but not least, Sign up if you haven’t already to stay in the loop.
Summing up…
So, where to get inspiration?
From anything really, anything that is beautiful and touches us in some way. There is no right or wrong, pick something that you love, something that speaks to you.
We only need to open our eyes and be more aware of the world around us. There is beauty everywhere…
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Hi there ! I’m Nedal.
I created Beading Treasures to make information about beading large tapestries more accessible, and in doing so encouraging creating of this amazing art form.
Weaving big can seem intimidating but by using some techniques it is totally doable, no more than that it is really enjoyable!
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Thank you!
Nedal Douaihy, Artist & Founder
