Art Bead Scene - January Challenge

Textile Design for Cretonne, 1928? 

by Lois Mailou Jones

Tempera on Paper

About the Art

Lois Mailou Jones would return summer after summer to paint on the Vineyard. In Boston, Lois Jones’ mother was a beautician and had a beauty shop with a friend. One of her private customers, Mrs. Gibson, lived in Vineyard Haven. She wrote, “Mrs. Gibson discovered that I was talented and she said I must come and paint in her garden. She had a wonderful set of Japanese books of handpainted flowers. That is very important in my career because she said, “Let Lois come over and paint in my garden and then she can borrow these books.”
“I used those flowers for my cretonne designs and those cretonne designs were printed and sold all over the country, as far as California. It was all going back to Mrs. Gibson who lived in Vineyard Haven.” These early textile designs are a testament to Jones’ exceptional versatility as an artist. Interestingly enough it was these textile designs that eventually launched her into a fine art career.

About the Artist

Lois Mailou Jones (November 3, 1905 – June 9, 1998) was a prize winning artist who lived into her nineties and who painted and influenced others during the Harlem Renaissance and beyond during her long teaching career. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts and is buried on her beloved Martha’s Vineyard in the Oak Bluffs Cemetery.

When I saw this photo I was so drawn to the colors. I knew I wanted to something in beadweaving as I am trying to become better with it as I move forward in my jewelry career.

While looking though the art bead designers I came across Three Wing Studios..she had some new handmade clay art beads that really fit the bill.... The colors matched perfectly along with the seed bead I had on hand.

The results - a bracelet with a metal flower pendant clasp.

For more great eye candy and instructions..head over to the Art Bead Scene blog.

Thanks for looking.

V