 The Elements of Design:
An Introduction
by Lynn M. Dean
“Does this look good to you?”
It’s a question my students inevitably ask each time I teach a beading class, and one that I find the most difficult to answer. You see, it doesn’t matter what the necklace, bracelet, or watch looks like to me. It’s how it “sings to your heart” that’s important. After all, I’m not going to be the one wearing it.
Hi, my name is Lynn and I’m a bead-a-holic. I caught the beading bug almost 30 years ago when I was in college. Back then I made what I now deem to be “ugly” necklaces that still exist in some of my loved ones’ jewelry boxes. (Throw them away. I beseech you. Please throw them away!)
 The beading bug eventually developed into an addiction, and my love for beads grew, as did my stash. And although I don’t subscribe to the philosophy “She who dies with the most beads wins,” I’ve certainly got a good head start at winning that race.
Today I spend all of my Christmas and birthday gift money on lampwork beads, especially purple ones (I’m known in many beading circles as The Purple Lady). My style is both bold and expressive. Many of the lampwork artists I know feed my addition by making beads especially for me. They know what makes my heart sing!
I can’t tell you what sings to your heart, but I can help you learn the elements of design. Throughout this series, I will help you learn to make pieces of jewelry that make your heart sing, and although I’ll use my bold jewelry as examples, the elements of design I’ll employ will translate to any piece of jewelry, no matter what your personal style is. We’ll discuss scale, size, shape and texture. We’ll explore the aspects of wearability , flexibility and durability. We’ll learn how to feed our muses and find inspiration in the world around us.
I didn’t go to art school, and I didn’t recognize the artist in me until late into my addiction. But as a longstanding beading instructor, I had to learn to dissect my work and extract those elements that made my designs work in order to teach those concepts to my students. It is those elements of design that I will share with you throughout this series. Although I will provide the names of lampwork artists and cite other resources for the beads and findings used in my work, the purpose of this column is not to help you duplicate the jewelry I use to demonstrate an idea or concept. Frankly some pieces, such as those used in this month’s project, feature one-of-a-kind beads made especially for me. Rather my purpose is to help you create your own jewelry with your own personal flair and style. My goal is to help you find the jewelry artist that exists within you.
 So join me on this journey as we explore the elements of design and how you can create wearable art that sings for you.
Next month- Identifying Your Personal Style.
See the matching Project “Celestial Pendant Necklace”
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