Recycled Necklace
Over the last two weeks, I’ve really enjoyed creating this piece. It gave me the chance to create something entirely new out of discarded materials, whilst knowing my final piece would have no lasting effect of the environment.
I was initially working with ideas from the icebreaker project where I became fascinated by the look of folded paper. I began making the same forms I’d made previously but from recycled cardboard. However, I didn’t like how the shapes looked in cardboard so I started looking at different repeat shapes. I started making cubes and cylinders from thin patterned cardboard and found that they worked better due to the simplicity of the shapes combined with the pattern and colours.
My main inspirations for this piece were Elizabethan ruffs and Ancient Egyptian collar necklaces. Being able to combine such historic designs with a very current world issue like recycling and ethical making was an interesting challenge.
After making a couple of test pieces, I decided to go with the cylinder shape and worked with wire to create three different sized ruffs that can be worn together or separately.
Love the images of this final neckpiece, it is certainly a statement design! The middle detail shot has a really nice composition.
When photographing indoors, it can be difficult when there are a range of light sources. Outdoors gives a blue toned light, lightbulbs emit a yellow toned light (fluorescent are purply). Your camera will struggle to get the colours and white balance right when there are a range of sources (you can see this in the yellow areas vs blue areas of the image). It is best to pick one: outdoors is good for a bright light, or by a window. Overcast days tend to be best for product photography as sunlight casts harsh shadows.
I would love to see an image of the piece being worn as it would help give a sense of scale. Perhaps you could persuade one of your flatmates to wear it for you?
Every details of this necklace is fabulous. Different kinds of designs which makes it even better, and makes totally different and unique with other designs. Cool and great masterpiece.
Thanks for sharing about your craftwork