Okay, so I admit, I get a lot of my 'news' on AOL. But gotta tell ya, a lot of their style reports aren't half bad. They cut to the chase and give you the scoop with a few pix....and really quick!
Wanna have a look? I'll share: http://fashion.about.com/od/springsummer06/ss/springtrends06.htm?nl=1
If any of you guys have watched my YouTube instructional videos (find them at http://www.youtube.com/user/bsueboutiques) you know I am extremely fashion-conscious.
NOT!!!
But as mixed media artists, it's good to pay attention and think---outside the box, since what we do is ART more than high fashion!--how the trends may apply.
The first one on the list was the color PINK! Everything from blush to fuschia....think Barbie pink! Well, that would probably be akin to Pantone's color of the year, HONEYSUCKLE.
See our side bar for a link to Pantone's color site. This is a site you should FREQUENT, because the trends in color come out literally SEASONS AHEAD. Color is important in mixed media work, now more than ever. Not a pink sort of person? Maybe this year's designs on your worktable should give it an homage, somehow....especially if you are selling your work.
Here's a piece I made with a beautiful vintage Japanese porcelain focal in pink:
I only wish I could get more of that focal....long gone.
Another big trend was FLORAL DRESSES. Are you a dress person? Many artists like pretty, flowy, gyspy-style dresses, smocks and aprons. If you make your own clothing, keep that trend in mind. Also longer hemlines are figuring into spring and summer style.
As to jewelry, you could take the floral trend this way: flower power jewelry that you enamel yourself and maybe combine tattered and torn fibers or even ripped vintage calico strips as ribbon, necklace cords, or even twisted and tied around chain and focals.
The third trend that interested me was SEVENTIES RETRO. As I was a teenager late 60's-early 70's---I remember well Vogue magazine Jan 1970---I was in the school library reading it, in the ninth grade! As a toss back to 70's retro, think India glass beads, long beaded necklaces, hippie chick motifs and styles. Have you checked out our cool novelty pendants? Many are made from dies that go back to that time. Retro and Novelty Pendants
The fourth trend appalled me. MINIMALISM. Ugh ugh ugh....do you remember the STERILE looks of the early 90's? The jewelry business totally tanked outside of sleek, simplistic sterling pieces at that time. Did it really affect the ART jewelry business? I hardly think so....but at that time I was selling to gift shops, and as mainstream America got away from wearing jewelry, it DID hurt me.
To be sure, article mentioned minimalist clothing...but does also seem so strange as it conflicted completely with the other 'hot' trends....such as:
Mixed prints! Try mixing a print in several sizes or several colors. The photo there was interesting. I would probably not wear this as CLOTHING....but as far as ART is concerned, I think it translates PERFECTLY to mixed media work. Have a look and think about it.
They also mentioned COLOR BLOCKING. Some suggestions were royal blue/hot pink, black and white. I would say, throw some of that Honeysuckle in there with the black and white and OOOH LA LA....a Frenchie bandbox look. Love that graphic.
They mentioned one bold move might be green and purple. Hmmm. Only perhaps with a splash of copper or gold...or both. Or burnt orange. Not green and purple alone, I dunno, who has their color wheel out? Does that really bounce?
Why not try color blocking the Pantone Spring colors such as beeswax, peapod, and lavender. That sounds so pretty! So many times with mixed media we tend to go toward grunge, at least in jewelry making. Why not do that look but with soft, pretty colors? I myself may have a hard time to moving my ideas that way as I tend to go toward patina and rust.....but, probably a really good experiment!
Review the article for other trends and then contemplate on how they might affect your jewelry art. It may take you down a new path, and! increase the sales of the things you make.


