My name is Olesya Bryutova, I am 31 years old, a psychologist by education; my major is HR consulting and management. I'm a happy wife and mother of two adorable children, and I'm currently expecting a third. I live and work in the Siberian city of Surgut, Russia. Unfortunately, my current professional interesting activities have very little in common with creativity. However, the art is accompanying me, in fact, since my birth. My parents are professional artists, sculptors, and one of my grandmothers has taught painting and drawing at the School of Art for more than thirty years. The fate gave her long enough life and fortunately, I was able to become her diligent and appreciative student.
So, first of all, I owe to my family members the fact that not a single day of my life went by without contact with Beauty. In that environment I received an art education of the highest quality that is called "home education." I planned to continue developing in this direction and then intended to enter the Art School, where I wanted to be trained as a jeweler - but life decided otherwise. Unrealized earlier, my creative aspirations have found its way in my hobbies, and beading became one of which recently. And most important, what I've achieved today in this kind of craftwork, is of course, the third place taken in Fashion Colorworks 2014.
I came to the world of beads thanks to familiarity with beadworks of well know beader Guzel Bakeeva. Accidentally, about two years ago I saw the results of her creativity and fell in love with it at a glance. I then was stunned by technical and artistic possibilities of beads, embodied in her jewelry. After that I set a goal: to learn to do something a little reminiscent of what I saw - as soon as possible. I did not want to imitate anyone, as works of famous artists seemed to me "being full" of their personality. So, a try to do something like that would be too risky for my own style. And I'm only modestly, but firmly decided to achieve a high level of knowledge of this amazing material - probably, not immediately.
I didn't take bead embroidery but beadweaving was good to me. After making several sample things I switched to something more serious and complex trying to apply in each new work as much as possible the experience, knowledge and skills obtained during making of the previous one. I was trying to constantly improve my skills. There was very little time remaining after taking care of my children, - while the desire of self-improvement in the chosen direction, on the contrary, was very high. I accepted any means and incentives, the number of which among other things included regular visits to the bead websites and bead community forums where I was finally and irrevocably drawn into the process of creating beaded jewelry. The results have involved tracking different bead competitions as well as a permanent stay updated on the latest news in the bead universe.
That's how I learned about the Fashion Colorworks 2014. The competition concept immediately captivated me, since I like to not just create a work for inspiration, but also to solve some creative and technical tasks in the process and to comply with any mandatory conditions. For a beginner and amateur like me, to participate in the competition of such a high level was, of course, a very ambitious event, and I decided that one job is not enough because I certainly wanted to get into the top ten finalists and to go to the second round. I set it as my minimum program - hence, it was necessary to somehow increase my chances.
Because of that I made a decision to submit three works - one in each of the triads. Besides, I decided that I would send to the contest one of my recent previous beadworks - the necklace "Bouquet For Mom." Although, of course, I have not relied on it too much because though this necklace included a range of one of the triads, the colors have still not fully met, in my opinion, all contest conditions. But I really liked the work, so I felt that did not happen anything wrong if I give it a chance to try its luck.
Knowing that the Fashion Colorworks normally attracts excellent masters from all over the world, I thought I should simply did surpass myself at this time and to demonstrate all I have learned showing maximum originality. As a result, after making my first entry, a set of "Harlequin", and looking at it after two weeks of crazy creative process, it seemed to me that I was even a little overdone. Giving free rein to my imagination and in no way limiting it except for the contest terms I realized that I missed from my sight one serious point: the perception of the beadwork without the model. Finished set seemed very strange on the flat surface causing obvious doubt in its wearable.
My first thought was to not submit the set... But when I worked on it I so fell in love with my Harlequin, mysterious actor dressed as a clown of Elizabethan times, whose crystal heart has beat thanks to the Fashion Colorworks, that I didn't change my original plans. Sighing heavily - and reversing the chance of "Harlequin" for success in my mind in advance - I started the implementation of my second plan. But now I included in the range of technical problems, among other things, and the visual perception of the future work on the photo. Thus the necklace "Bali Legends Of The Sea" was born.
My mood was not the same and this beadwork embodied much less originality and complexity. But, of course, I invested a lot from my soul - at least, in order this also became my personal little pride. I think the obvious disadvantage of this work is not quite satisfactory degree of purity of its execution and the geometry of the necklace is not as perfect as I would have liked. The latest work, set "Ker-Is" was the hardest. I decided to try an experiment and the set was undergone many repeated reworking. I didn't tie much hope with that set initially, I was just thinking to use the contest as an incentive to challenge the most conscientious implementation of long ago planned experiment to combine wire, beads and soutache. Alas, the last color combination hasn't awakened my creative imagination.
Before submitting my works to the contest, I've again thought hard - if I should do it at all? But, as with any even the worst case, sending the photo does not lead to my immediate death - why not? When I learned about jurors and their own beadworks, it led me in sheer delight and finally added the necessary determination. I liked all jurors. I thought, "These artists, of course, will understand what I created here. And I have to pass the decision to their hands as soon as I made my beadworks for the contest."
Sending photos, I said to myself, "Even if I don't get to the final I have the opportunity to know the sums of my marks, in order to compare them with my own feelings. And this, no doubt, will be very, very helpful for my future work. And if one of my items makes the final it will be perfect at all!" However, having seen all the fragments of works submitted to the contest, I finally said "goodbye" to my hope of making the final and became thinking about the fact, that I would know my scores after the contest.
Imagine my happy surprise when I discovered in the final not one, but two of my beadwork! It was a real feast! I couldn't even dream of that and then I didn't worry waiting for the final results. The Third Place was a big surprise for me. I was very happy that the jurors evaluating my "Harlequin" haven't been confused with what embarrassed me. Or, at least, their positive impression wasn't messed up very much. Still, I initially thought this my work is the most successful and was glad that my opinion of it coincided with the opinion of the jury.
I highly appreciate personal significance of my award in the Fashion Colorworks 2014. I know what great masters sent their beadworks to the contest. I saw how great and original jewelry and accessories have not been selected for the finals. In addition, I perfectly understand that my "Harlequin" is in the top three highly technical and professional works. In short, I feel the assessment received by my item is great honor for me .
I'd like to say lots of thanks to the organizers, who established such an interesting and resourceful competition as Fashion Colorworks, as well as to all members of the jury panel; due to their attention I was able to believe in myself and my skills even more than before the contest. My gratitude will not be complete without the most sincere expression of gratitude to all those craftsmen and craftswomen who generously share their knowledge and skills with beginners - all interested persons can learn what they are interested in even without leaving home. Low bow to this wonderful creative community! And, of course, I thank those who supported me and inspired on my entire creative way!
I initially perceived Fashion Colorworks not as competition, but rather as a very, very important exam. And the result tells me that the undoubted success in my skills improvement is partly reached. It certainly encourages me to go further, calling to move forward again and again to break new boundaries on my way to the goal that I originally set for myself.
My gallery on MyLovelyBeads.com
About author:
| Olesya Bryutova, Surgut, Tyumen region, Russia | |
| Email: | olesyafox@rambler.ru |
