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The Flowers of the Wind God and Thunder God |
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Meet the Designer-Artist
Where do you live?
Ibaraki-prefecture, Japan
Describe your artistic style.
I don't make a plan first; I just start working as I feel at that moment.
What inspires you as a designer-artist?
I often get inspirations from the works made by other artists, and also I get affected by something that nature makes art, architecture and fashion.
What materials do you most enjoy working with?
I especially love seed beads. They have shown me that there is a great possibility that those tiny beads become anything I want.
What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
The Flowers of the Wind God and Thunder God
What inspired this design?
I got moved by the tremendous power and the great atmosphere that Japanese National treasure paintings The Flowers of the Wind God and Thunder God has and that made me feel like creating new work. I planned not to make it precisely from the painting but to arrange it by the flowers.
How did it come together?
I planned it simply first and then some ideas came up and found new ideas while making it. I wanted the each petals to have a power and a movement so I especially paid attention to them. I made them on trial many times and got closer to the ideal. It was so difficult to express the wind and the thunder by the flowers that I wished the flowers would come out powerfully just like the paintings.
Share Your Background
When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
I read some articles about a beading loom 5 years ago and it was so attractive that I made one on trial. And then I bought a book about beads and got to know off-loom. Finally, I started working with beads.
Who introduced you to beading?
I have attended some courses on beads three times when foreign artists came to Japan. Basically, I have studied beads by myself.
Do you have an artistic background?
A fine prize at Japan Bead Grand Prize 2009, 2nd place Bead Dreams Seed Bead Category 2010.
How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®?
I saw ads in American bead magazines.
What other hobbies do you have?
Embroidery, crocheting and knitting, clothing makeover, room redecorating.
Beading Success
What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
There was a time that I lost confidence and felt so down. Then I got to know beads and that made me reborn. I have another job at the moment and I work with beads part-time. I have never worked with beads as a job yet, but I am thinking that I will start soon.
Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
I have belonged to other kinds of charities, but not yet with beads. I hope to participate in a charity through beads in the future.
Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Enjoy representing yourself through the beads!
View Yukiko's designs in the Gallery of Designs. |
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