While exploring lava fields on the Big Island of Hawaii last winter, I learned that it is wise to look down, watch your step, and take time to enjoy the wide variety of colors and textures. Above are just a few examples of my discoveries.
Category Archives: Blog
Lava Fields
Posted in Blog, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry
Tagged Big Island, black, color, explore, gray, Hawaii, inspiration, lava, lava field, nature, orange, rock formation, stone, texture, Yellow
More Lichen Beauty
“Lichen Rainbow”, Red Canyon, Utah photo by Alan Grinberg
Lichens, Burgess Lake from Montana Outdoors
Lichen Fields, California photo by Sylvia Sharnoff
I was so inspired by the color and texture of the lichen that I discovered last week on National Geographic, I felt compelled to do more research. These are my newest additions to my inspiration library. I hope they will inspire you too.
Posted in Blog, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry
Tagged Alan Grinberg, blue, Burgess Lake, California, color, inspiration, lichen, Lichen Fields, Montana, Montana Outdoors, National Geographic, nature, orange, rock formation, Sylvia Sharnoff, texture, Utah, white, Yellow
Lichen Beauty
Lichen on Slate Photograph by Sylvia Sharnoff
While searching for inspiration in rock formations, I came across this amazing image of lichen on slate featured on National Geographic. The colors and textures are amazing. Lichen is my newest addition to my list of nature’s artistry.
Posted in Blog, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry
Tagged blue, color, inspiration, lichen, National Geographic, nature, orange, rock formation, slate, Sylvia Sharnoff, texture, yellow-green
Nature’s Stone Landscapes
Quartz (variety: "Landscape" Agate), photo by Chip Clark
Greenskin Jasper, Turee Creek, Western Australia, photo by Hans Gamma
Banded Agate, photo by Richard Weston
I am constantly amazed and inspired by the beauty and artistry found in nature. The landscape images in these stones draw me in and evoke a sense of awe. To me, nature is the ultimate artist.
Posted in Blog, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry
Tagged agate, jasper, landscape, minerals, nature, quartz, stone
Treasure
Samples from my treasure trove
Recently, I felt like I struck gold. I was invited by a lapidary (art of cutting and polishing stone) instructor to come raid the scrap buckets of stone at the studio where he teaches. He has been saving the discarded pieces for years, for what, he wasn’t sure. In the back of his mind he must have known someone would appreciate them as I do.
As I sort the stones by color, texture, size and shape, I’m taking my time to admire their natural beauty as I try to identify them. In my treasure trove I’ve discovered lapis, jade, obsidian, chrysocolla, copper, quartz, agate, jasper, fossils and so much more. Already, I have numerous projects in mind for my find.
Posted in Blog, Cufflinks, Earrings, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry, Pendants
Tagged agate, chrysocolla, color texture, copper, fossils, jade, jasper, lapidary, lapidary art, lapis, obsidian, quartz, shape, stone, texture size, treasure trove
Layers of Beauty
Though I love getting inspiration from my surroundings, I often come across images online that really speak to me. A recent Google search led me to the following pieces, all of which utilize texture and layering in unusual ways.
Piece of Flat Globe Vol.5 (detail) Noriko Ambes
Paper becomes beautiful canyons and valleys with Noriko Ambes’ extraordinary carved paper sculptures.
The Search for Green Jeanne Opgenhaffen
Jeanne Opgenhaffen’s mural of layered, overlapping porcelain tiles of varying shades and tones evoke the feeling of movement through a field.
Transplanted (detail) Tara Donovan
Using ripped and stacked tar-paper, Tara Donovan’s installation creates the appearance of the earth’s crust or a lava flow.
All of these textural, multidimensional works of art were created by layering different materials. Through the layering process the materials–no longer identifiable–become something that appears natural and organic.
Posted in Blog, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry
Tagged black, green, installation, Jeanne Opgenhaffen, layers, mural, nature, Noriko Ambes, paper, porcelain, sculpture, tar-paper, Tara Donovan, textures, white
Aquamarine
The New Year has officially begun and I’ve welcomed it by cutting into a new batch of stones. One of my favorite stones to cut and use is aquamarine. Sorting through the pound of aquamarine stones I recently purchased, I felt like a kid in a candy store. The many different hues of blues and greens, varying transparency and iridescence of each stone excited me and I couldn’t wait to cut into them to see the treasures within. I have hours of cutting ahead and look forward to the new creative directions the stones take me.
To view my currently available mosaic jewelry please visit Gray Raven Designs.
Posted in Blog, Cufflinks, Earrings, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry, Pendants
Tagged aquamarine, blue, gemstone, green, hues, iridescence, mineral, stone, transparency
Reflections
The Blue Bean ( Cloud Gate, Chicago) photograph by Colin Michaelis
Pontiac Lake, Oakland County, Michigan photograph by Patricia Vail
Rear View photograph by Anna O’Dea
I like to end each year with reflections, both literal and figurative; I hope you enjoy these beautiful images that were submitted to Hilton Honors™ and National Geographic Stories Without Words photo contest.
To celebrate the holidays, please enjoy 10% off all mosaic art jewelry at Gray Raven Designs. Use coupon code HOLIDAY2011 at checkout until December 31, 2011.
Posted in Blog, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry
Tagged cityscape, Cloud Gate, landscape, National Geographic, nature, photos, rear view, reflections
Thirteen Pounds
Recently I purchased thirteen pounds of emerald, aquamarine, amethyst, carnelian, citrine, labradorite, amazonite, and bronzite stones at a gem show. I selected the stones not only for their color, but also for their iridescence, transparency and reflectivity. Over the next few months I will be spending hours in my studio hand cutting the stones into the micro-sized pieces I require to create my mosaic art jewelry. I look forward to seeing how this new batch of stones guides me in my future designs.
To view my currently available mosaic jewelry please visit Gray Raven Designs.
Posted in Blog, Cufflinks, Earrings, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry, Pendants
Tagged amazonite, amethyst, aquamarine, blue, bronzite, brown, carnelian, citrine, emerald, green, grey, labradorite, orange, purple, stones, Yellow
Iridescent Labradorite
The iridescence of the mineral labradorite reminds me of butterfly wings with its shimmer of color. At first glance some labradorite stones may appear grey or black, but as light enters the stone, flashes of blue, green, violet, red, yellow and orange colors can be seen. This play of color is known as “labradorescence” and is caused by light entering and scattering between the many micro-thin layers of crystals within the stone.
To see the beauty of labradorite in my mosaic jewelry please visit Gray Raven Designs.
Posted in Blog, Cufflinks, Earrings, Etsy, Inspiration, Micro Mosaic, Mosaic Jewelry, Pendants
Tagged iridescence, labradorescence, labradorite, mineral
