In her book, The Irresistible Bead, Linda Fry Kenzle called Bette Kelley "an amazing colorist". Throughout her adult career in art - 17 years as a commission stained glass artist, 10 as a costumer, and 7 as a maker of beaded broad collars, color has been the unifying interest in these varied means of expression. Bette views herself as a translator of the world she sees into color schemes, currently expressed in broad collars. She continually tries to capture the "essense" of a place she's been to or something she's seen, and express that essense through color. All of her pieces are named - you should always know who you work with - and again reflect the inspiration for each color. Take a journey with her as she explores where she's been, what her major influences are and perhaps where she's going.
She will show slides, but will also have sample necklaces for show and tell. "Hands on" is always OK. Questions are encouraged. This lecture typically goes 45 minutes before questions.
WOW! How do you do that? Do have a design in mind first? How do you know what colors to use? How long does it take to make that?
These are the most commonly asked questions when doing a show, participating in an exhibit, or giving a demonstration. This lecture is designed to help dispell the notion that good art comes out of thin air. Good art demands thought and making many decisions. These issues are addressed in "Art By Design". Each participant is given an outline of design topics and questions to be answered when designing a piece. Points are illustrated with slides of Bette's work. Many of Bette's collars will be available as illustrations of the covered points. The lecture begins with an interactive design excercise that will help attendees to start thinking of the design process in a new way. Questions and discussion are encouraged. This lecture typically takes 45 minutes before questions.