Signature Beads?

[Cracked Baubble]

So I've heard refrence to this a few times, occasionally with some sarcasm. Now I know you can make cane with your name in it but I get the impression it's a signature style but I'm wondering if I'm missing something.

I do notice that some artists prefer raised flowers, others always encase and some obvious ones are Brent's hearts and Traviln' Gals' (though I think it's her dh that does them) creature bead sets... anyway can someone give me more common examples and let me know if I'm missing anything.

[born2snooze]

Hi Camie, nice to meet you!

Please forgive my English, I'm Indonesian, living in Canada for about 5 years now. Sometimes I sound 'funny'. :-D

I'm new, just been torching for about 4 days now in my new studio. (and I took 1 intro class months ago).

I'm a jewelry maker, so, eventho I just started torching for a few days, I bought from quite many lampwork artist for the past year or so. I've been looking, bidding, drooling and dreaming about these beautiful beads that people make. I find them from Ebay mostly. I'm Edna Britskey, and I'm a beadaholique.. =P~

I'm a very simple person with language barrier, so unfortunately I cant explain it with better words, but trust me, I would if I could. Here's from my simple mind of what I thought about 'signature beads':

'I think a signature bead is a bead that doesnt matter with what color or what shape the artist make it, and doesnt matter what kind of decoration on it, they always turn out to have a characteristic style, that make people (who are familiar with them) can tell that those beads belong to a certain artist. There's something about them that remind us to the artist'.

Since I fell in love with beads, I 've been looking at beads often, and have several artists that are my favorite. I can tell apart some artists beads from others just like that. Maybe because I stare at them often from my computer screen. I check Ebay's lampwork beads almost daily. And bid/buy regularly. Oh yeah, there are many many artist that are blessed to have signature beads.

I have a list of my most favorite artist who I found on Ebay, they all have signature style.

- Corina's bead always turn out to have something 'so Corina about it' if we compare to other beads.
- Kimberly have her goddess seahorse that only Kimberly could make.
- Maria Grimes, have a very unique (definitely signature style), I can tell her beads from miles away. Maria's bead are feminine and so simple yet so beautiful.
- Patricia Santana is also my favorite, also have characteristic style that I can recognize very fast.
- Amy Trescott, have her signature braille beads.
- Andrea Venschott from Germany, I'd kill for her squeezed decorated beads. They always scream 'Andrea!'
- Gayle, from Graciebeads, always earthy looking beautiful beads. Doesnt matter which color she use, her beads are always 'earthy/natural looking'.

I have a few more people whose beads I can tell apart from others since I join LE a month ago: Kaye, have those colorful flowery beads, I think that's her signature style, or at least in my opinion, I also can tell apart Kim Neely's beads. and Flame On Glass beads, from Canada, very characteristic. Love 'em.

I actually just found out so many more great artist on LE. You guys are killing me! NLC, cute cute cute sheeps, ( I want one!) and always fun and funny little (mostly animal) focal beads. I can't mention them one by one, but you get the idea. :)

Oh! Kandice! Kandice Seaber's raised florals, I would kill for those, specially the ones using more pink! Oh baby! Sorry Kandice, I dont forget you! I looove Kandice's beads. I wish I have all the money in the world. Her beads are perfect and heavenly. God, these beads are killing me!!!

I'm just starting but I feel lucky that I've seen, and touch and have the opportunity to see other people's beads for a while, before I decided to make my own, I dont know if I will have signature style, but I it does help to get familiar with them. At least I already know which way I'm going. Flowers and more flowers & girly, feminine beads!

I have pictures of all those artists if anybody havent seen any of their works, because some of them are not member of any group. Just let me know.

Take care,

.

[kimberly]

Edna, that was a LOVELY post! You do not need to apologise for your english or anything else. Your ideas came across very clearly! Thank you for the wonderful compliment, also!

Signature beads mean different things to many. The one I hear the most is "one" bead that represents an artist's body of work. I don't really want one of those!! Signature "style" on the other hand, is not a bad thing. I LOVE to make ALL sorts of beads: organics, cased beads, faceted cased organics, cased florals, raised dots, swirled dots, even spacers. It is limiting, to me anyway, to claim to have a signature bead. I love making those seahorses but I DO make other beads that I like just as much!!!

I think a signature "style" is a good thing to have!!! I hope I have it. I know there are beadmakers out there that definitely DO have a signature style. Edna mentioned many of my favorites!!! I believe signature "Style" comes with lots of time at the torch and a dedication to the art. I don't think you can claim it. It claims you.

But, If you don't have a "Signature" bead, I wouldn't worry. In my opinion, no one needs one!!!

Just my two cents.

[born2snooze]

Hi Kimberly, thank you!
I'm sending you PM.

Take care,

[born2snooze]

:-# Hey Camie, dont let me kill your thread, girl! :-#


PS:
Please let me know if maybe you want me to edit it. I'll be happy to.

:-#

[NLC Beads]

Please forgive my English, I'm Indonesian, living in Canada for about 5 years now. Sometimes I sound 'funny'. :-D

'I think a signature bead is a bead that doesnt matter with what color or what shape the artist make it, and doesnt matter what kind of decoration on it, they always turn out to have a characteristic style, that make people (who are familiar with them) can tell that those beads belong to a certain artist. There's something about them that remind us to the artist'.

NLC, cute cute cute sheeps, ( I want one!) and always fun and funny little (mostly animal) focal beads. I can't mention them one by one, but you get the idea. :)



Edited down because I only left the parts I'm referencing. Thank you for the sweet compliment! :) The sheep took on their own lives, I think, and I'm happy about it. I make other beads, but the animals sell best on eBay, so that's what I put up. I sneak in florals, but mainly with frogs on them!

Here and in all your posts, your English is very understandable. I'm sure if most of us had to post on another language's board, we would be completely lost. (OK, I would, anyway!)

Signature beads do tend to be a style or somewhat of a flair that people have. Jared DeLong with his gorgeous multi-layered then coldworked beads, Sharon Peters with her bright animated creatures, Mr. Booger with his Fire & Ice beads, etc. A lot of people use the signature canes, and you're right in thinking that's not all that it means. As an example very close to me: Somehow the sheep became a signature bead, I think, for me. Is that all I make? No. Do other people make sheep? Absolutely - before and after me. But somehow mine look different - like I made them. (I've been told, anyway. :)) You could hand several artists rods of the same colors and ask them to make a specific type of bead, and most of them won't look the same - their style will shine through.

Hope this helps,
Nikki

[born2snooze]

Nikki,
thank you for pointing out more important points!
I love your cute and funny style on the animals, I want the last pink sheep, but I missed the end of bid! Darn! I'm watching your auctions from now on, see if you will make another pink sheep. Or even better, maybe the pink princess one? Oh, that will be too cute!

Have a great week end!

[Cracked Baubble]

thank you all for your comments!
Edna your english is great, better than many born and raised Americans I know LOL!

[born2snooze]

Hi Camie!
:-D Then you will really like my Indonesian! :biggrin:

[lunamoonshadow]

Yes, Nikki's sheep LOOK like "Nikki's Sheep"....And Amy Caswell's cat's (& dogs) look like Amy's critters...Tink's vessels....and the list goes on, right?
If you want to see some other "really identifiable" beads, Pati Walton, Michael Barley, David Palnick & a lot of the beadmakers who advertise in Bead & Button magazine (I LOVE to visit the beadmaker's websites who advertise there...droolworthy....)
~lyn

[NLC Beads]

Nikki,
thank you for pointing out more important points!
I love your cute and funny style on the animals, I want the last pink sheep, but I missed the end of bid! Darn! I'm watching your auctions from now on, see if you will make another pink sheep. Or even better, maybe the pink princess one? Oh, that will be too cute!

Have a great week end!

Yup, eventually the princess one will have a crown - she was just too darn cute without one this time, I just left her as is. We'll see what happens next time I torch - I was going to tonight, but I am way tired after working... (And going out with friends and having a dessert for dinner. Whoops.) :)

I'm still trying to figure out how everything turns out that cute when in real life I wear mainly black and hide... Must have had to let the cuteness out somewhere. :lol:

Thanks, again! Nikki