Art Bead Scene - Monthly Challenge

Well I've decided to add to the suspense of the new Goddess and not "release" her until tomorrow...hehe.

In the meantime the Art Bead Scene's Monthly challenge for April is Botticelli Birth of Venus. I absolutely adore this painting for two reasons. First off - - Its a mythology painting! Venus was said to have been born sprung from the foam of the ocean. Other myths say she was born from a seashell. Either way, Botticelli has done a fine job of representing Venus (Aphrodite to the Greeks). This image is probably one of the most recognized paintings in the history of Art. The other reason I love this painting, is because when I was an art history major in college I was able to see this piece when I was studying in Florence. It is a very large painting (over five feet tall) and you can see all the beautiful detail Botticelli includes in his rendering of fabrics and foliage. This painting truly combines my love of art and mythology. Though I must admit, his Primavera is what really gets me weak in the knees.


Since it brought back so many wonderful memories, I got right on it. I decided to sketch the shell till I came up with a form that I liked. I then set about to make a stained glass pendant. Here are the glass pieces after they were cut and grinded. As you can see two "panels" of the shell are clear glass so that I could collage something inside the glass.


After fooling around with some dried flowers and lavender (too big, too messy) I decided to paint my own pattern. I took some simple collage paper and very lightly and loosely drew pretty little pink flowers, much like the ones that float magically in the painting.


Well that's as far as I got today. I will have to solder tomorrow... I also have some plans for Zephyr (God of the Wind), Aura (Goddess of Breezes), and Horae (Goddess of the Seasons) who are also in the painting. They will play lesser roles in the necklace but are not forgotten :)

Hope its not raining where you are! :(

A Goddess Intro

If you have been to my jewelry website, then you already know... I am in love with Greek Mythology! I am introducing a new Goddess to my collections this week. I hope to have her up by Monday or Tuesday the latest.

But first I thought it would be nice to introduce you to the Goddesses formally :)

Athena was the goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, and artisans. Athena invented the flute, the trumpet, the chariot, and the ship. She also taught women's arts such as cooking and weaving. Zeus, King of the Gods, was her father. Her mother was one of Zeus’ many affairs that bore offspring.

Roman Name: Minerva

Athena was a very important Goddess to the Greeks. Named after the great city of Athens, Athena was the city’s protector. Her symbols included the olive branch, the owl and sometimes the snake. In making pieces for the Athena collection I have tried to convey both her strength and artistic skill.

Demeter was the Goddess of the Harvest and agriculture. She was the patron of farmers, and the goddess of everything green; trees, grass, gardens, and crops alike. She had given man the gift of wheat and showed them how to sow their fields.

Roman Name: Ceres

Demeter had a daughter named Persephone who was kidnapped by Hades, the God of the underworld. While Demeter roamed the earth searching for her daughter she became so depressed that she let nothing grow for six months and man was introduced to Winter. When her daughter returned Demeter rejoiced and the earth began to grow again. This is why Demeter is also the Goddess of the Seasons.

Artemis was the Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon. Her twin brother Apollo was God of the Sun. Artemis was one of the Virgin Goddesses and she was a patron of unmarried women and childbirth.

Roman Name: Diana

She was athletic, beautiful and deadly with a bow. The Greeks loved her for her protection of wild animals. Her symbols are all wild animals, which is why I incorporate many feathers into her jewelry. Also the moon and the stag represent Artemis.

Aphrodite was the Goddess of Love and beauty. Legend has said that Aphrodite was born sprung from the ocean foam near the Greek island of Cythera. The name Aphrodite means, "foam – risen." She was married to the unsightly Hephaestus, god of the forge. However Aphrodite was rarely faithful to her husband, as she was known to take a great deal of lovers, both immortal and mortal. One of her more famous offspring is the little winged Eros (or Cupid), the archer of love.

Roman Name: Venus

The pieces in the Aphrodite collection incorporate her connection to the sea. I use many seashells, pearls, and corals into the pieces. I have also incorporated lava in her pieces, which have a connection to her husband Hephaestus, God of the forge.

Hera was Queen of the Gods and wife (and sister) of Zeus. She was the goddess of Childbirth and Married Women as well as the Home. She was considered a jealous goddess, which is no surprise given the number of other lovers her husband had.

Roman Name: Juno

Her symbols included the pomegranate, which was a symbol of fertility and also the peacock. I have incorporated evil eye jewelry into her collection as well as real peacock feathers.

Thetis was a very beautiful sea nymph. Thetis was prophesied to have a son that would become more powerful than his father. Once this had spread through Olympus she was no longer desirable, despite her stunning beauty. Zeus had even tried to court her but ceased because of this prediction. At last Thetis married the mortal Peleus and gave birth to the mighty warrior Achilles.

Since Achilles was the son of a mortal, Thetis tried to make him immortal by dipping him into the River Styx. She held him by his heel and thus his heel became the only mortal part of his body. This is where we get the phrase "Achilles' Heel" today. Achilles was only defeated in the Trojan War when he was hit in his heel by a poison tipped arrow.

So now that you have met all my wonderful Goddess inspirations! I will introduce you to our new Goddess tomorrow!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend friends!