OUIL505: Hama Bead Experimentation

Following on from some of my previous research for this project, I finally bit the bullet and decided to give Hama bead art a shot. I am not sure what intrigues me so much about the thought of "fuse beads" as a medium, maybe its the possibility of simplifying down shapes and patterns or the potential for colour theory exploration with such a wide variety of block colour choices - either way I am sure it will be fun!

I initially wasn't sure what colours to buy therefore decided to just buy a big box of 30,000 beads. On first opening the box I realise my mistake straight away-all the beads are of course jumbled up in their vast array of 55 different colours and opacities and each bead is tiny - only 2mm in diameter. Undeterred by the fact that each hama bead piece 




Possible applications for my 3d "hama bead" art:

• key rings
• coasters
• jewellery
• badges
• magnets
• 3d colourful child's picture book (of simplified coral species)

Thoughts
As much fun as this process was and how much I liked the "back to basics" approach of creating artwork - I am unsure where to go with it from here. It is bold, creative, has impact and on the plus side - the "patterns within nature" concept running throughout my project for this OUIL505 module has been addressed and attempted within these pieces. Despite this, I feel the overall aesthetics fall somewhat flat and take away from the beauty that actually is within nature and these intricate organisms I have been studying. The medium seems too unnatural for such a "natural" subject. 
The patterns are extremely simplified down here and although this may work for a different - more "lighthearted" body of work and final resolutions - I am not sure these pieces are in keeping with the seriousness and true nature behind my "coral reef conservation" concept and besides - without spending time un-sorting the 29,500 hama beads i have left  - I will be here forever attempting to create more of these pieces and a larger body of final resolutions in this media.