From Inspiration to Conception
January 21, 2020 7:00-9:00 pm
This lecture is for all those designers and non-designers out there who would love a road map of different creative ways to bring your visions to life. As a designer, Cliff begins with a guiding question, “What is inspiring me today and why does it need to be made with beads?” Inspiration is all around us, whether it comes in the form of a color that catches our eye, a beautiful flower, the sounds of a bird singing, or an emotional situation.
The journey from idea to conception can be a winding road and finding shortcuts to avoid burn-out or abandoning a project is very important. Together we will explore how to find your muse, answer the question of “why it has to be made with beads,” and discuss creative/ unusual patterning techniques.
Cliff will discuss how he constructed the pattern for his Phalaenopsis Orchid Earrings that he will be teaching in February, as well as some of the unique methods he used to construct his award-winning Bead Dreams piece, “Spirit House.”
Cliff Swain-Salomon is an off-the-loom seed bead weaver known for creating non-traditional jewelry shapes and pushing the boundaries of color exploration. After injuring and losing use of both of his hands for over three years, he began beading when a friend recommended he try it as part of his hand rehabilitation therapy. Once he started, he was hooked.
In all of his pieces, Cliff integrates over 30 years of study in multiple fields, including graphic design, painting, as well as apprenticeships with several medicine men and women, exploring sacred geometry and chromotherapy. His art has been featured in several publications and exhibits, including Bead & Button (October 2018, June 2019), Style Magazine, Facet Jewelry, Palos Verdes Arts Center, Conejo Valley Art Museum Show, and California Lutheran University, to name a few. Recently, Toho Beads also invited him to be a featured artist for their 2019 Toho Bead Challenge. The piece he designed for them is currently touring the United States and will continue through Europe before being brought to Japan in 2020 to be added to the Toho Museum’s exhibition. Cliff has won several awards for his work including the People’s Choice Award for Bead Dreams 2018 and Juror’s Selection at Placer Artists Studio Tour.
Cliff teaches beadweaving at various stores and retreats and at the Bead & Button show (June 2019). He also has been an invited lecturer and teacher for various bead societies around the world.
Speaker: Cliff Swain Solomon. January 21, 2020. Presentation begins at 7:00pm with a 30 minute social followed by the presentation.
Location: Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Avenue, Albany, CA map . Parking is in the back of the building.
Everyone is invited to attend this speaker meeting. Members with membership card: free, non-members: $5. Membership can be purchased at the meeting or online by clicking here.