|
Tips from Judy Walker, bead artist from Monrovia, California.
"I find that the dichroic Aikos look best when used sparingly. One
bead at the tip of each fringe when there are many fringes, a thin line
of them accenting another color area, etc. I made some twisted fringe,
and I thought to use half dichroic Aikos and half matte black, so the
dichro would twist around the black. But it didn't look very good, because
the twisted fringes were too close together and the dichroic effect seemed
diluted. I ended up undoing it, and redoing it as all black twisted fringe
with three dichroic Aikos as a picot at the end of each fringe. Looked
much better.
"I also believe they look best against dark matte beads, for maximum
contrast. If you combine them with shiny silver-lined beads, they lose
some of their effect. I like them combined with 310 matte black, and with
matte dark blue iris (can't remember the delica number for that one off
hand). They really blaze out against a dark background. I've found they
don't look as good beaded into a large area, partly because of the inevitable
small areas of black uncoated areas on the beads gives a large beaded
area a mottled look. But they look great in a straight line. The uncoated
areas don't have a negative effect in that case-they don't seem to break
up a continuing line one or two beads wide.
So in general, I believe restraint and contrast are the keys. Additionally,
I like to place them where they'll move- on the end of a fringe, swinging
or moving somehow, so they catch the light.
Hope that's helpful!
-Judy"
|