A Mix of Fabulous Influence
Okay … I love this piece, but I hesitated posting it at first. And I bet you can guess why. The beads are beautifully crafted and the combination of contrasts lets each bead stand apart while still feeling like a part of the grand party that this necklace is by using regular jumps to red and and the limited palette. However, there are a couple very obvious bits of ‘borrowing’. I figured that word hits the middle ground on what some people might think about what Olga Ledneva does with work created in the styles and techniques of Dan Cormier and Helen Breil. Through books and classes, these two masterful artists make these techniques available to learn and create from. You can’t just learn these techniques and then not use them, right? However, you do still need to make them your own.
Upon seeing this, I knew neither Dan nor Helen created this piece. The beads echo theirs, but are not theirs for one or two reasons in each case. I think Olga really has applied her own style to the creation of the beads and, more specifically, to the combination and design of the necklace. The question, however, is whether or not you agree. I am definitely for taking something you learn and putting your own spin on it to the point that its original influence is not readily recognized rather than just add your own flair. But at what point does that happen? How far afield do you go before you can feel it really is your own work?
These are the first of this kind of work from Olga. We featured her own very unique constructed elements style about six months ago, and I can’t say I would have thought this was by the same person. Except for the meticulous finishes. That is really what is so fabulous about this. It is just so beautifully crafted. I am very interested in seeing where she goes with this kind of work. She obviously has her own particular voice and is trying to applying what’s she’s learned to her style of work. The outcome down the road could be tremendously exciting!
So what do you think? Do you think she should have taken the look and forms a touch further, or do you like how well she has learned what was taught and how she changed it?
You can see see more of Olga’s insanely meticulous work on her Flickr page.
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The piece is lovely. Period. You are compulsing too much. It doesn’t need to be judged on other people’s standards of what they taught or didn’t teach. This piece is well balanced, well executed and extremely wearable. End of story. 🙂
I agree completley
Having just embarked on my own journey in PC and learning tips and tricks from those who are already masters of the art, I think it’s fair to note that whilst it might be very similar to the artists she learnt from, the important thing is that it does have her own touch and as you say, further down the road the implementation of those techniques may coalesce into something truly individual to her. It’s an ongoing learning process I find exciting.
Thank you for publishing my work. Yes, you’re right. I really learned a lot of creative work of talented artists. And sometimes borrow their techniques, bringing something different. But you can also make sure that I have, and their achievements.
Спасибо за публикацию моей работы. Да, Вы правы. Я очень много изучаю творчество талантливых художников. И иногда заимствую их приемы, привнося что-то свое. Но Вы так же можете убедиться в том, что у меня есть и свои наработки.
Dear Olga,
I read this post the other day, I was so mad, and I still am. I am glad to have this opportunity to tell you so. I think for sure, that your work is the best out there in every way, Sage can have her opinion, but to publish that and praise and bash your work at the same time???? It really pissed me off a lot. I am sorry that you had this happen to you. Your work is not copying either one of those artist at all. Dans stuff is nice, but its all the same. Helens is beautiful, but its 1 piece at a time. You put many types of beads together in a beautiful way, and your colors are wonderful and so is the finish. You have a perfect sense of style.
Keep up your great work,
Your fan.
patti Underwood
Thank you so very much for posting your view Patti. I am very sorry my attempt to present a balanced view on how this might be seen upset you. I certainly wasn’t trying to be confrontational or negative. My personal opinion, which I thought was fairly obvious, is that this is a very tasteful and exceedingly well done adaptation of techniques that she learned. However, I knew not every one would agree. Since this blog is so widely read, it does rather require that I try and funnel the various views in our community into what I post. It allows for conversations like these, which is what I was aiming for. If I said nothing, I would have received a barrage of emails (not comments here … most people write me directly instead of commenting for some reason) accusing me of posting copied work and promoting such. To bring up the subject, I do need to present the other view, even when I do not agree. But a lot of people, Dan Cormier for one, have very strong concerns about copying and they are part of the community so since I see this blog as a way to voice all pertinent concerns of the community, I do feel that occasionally, I need to bring up these things. The vast majority of readers, but not all, agree with us that Olga has done a beautiful job here. Which I find encouraging. Hopefully at some point we can stop being so concerned about copying and focus our energy on just creating beautiful works of self-expression, regardless of what form it takes. But that will take conversation and sometimes, actually pointing out where some might find it questionable so we can further define and be comfortable with where that line is. Thanks again for posting your thoughts. I love to hear all sides, even when it doesn’t reflect a favorable opinion of what I’ve done. Maybe even more so because people are far less likely to send an opposing opinion or to criticize but those comments are some of the most important. Now I can look back at how I presented the conversation and work out ideas on how to do so better in the future. Thanks a ton! 🙂
I feel that as long as she does not intend to sell this piece but to wear it herself, it is OK. I have also made pieces made from classes of many artists and have worn them. I would never, of course, sell them as my own. I know it’s a fine line but in my opinion personal use is OK.
Thank you Patti and Sage for your kommentarii. I for support. But I do not see anything in this article offensive to me. Perhaps because sincerely convinced that my work is not plagiarism. I am very negative attitude to the direct copying of works by famous artists. And never allow myself this. Although there was a “sin”, I repeated once pendant Helen Breil)) But in this work the central bead only superficially similar to the work of Helen. I have it hollow. We have a completely different technology. What I wrote in the comments Helen on fb. Спасибо Patti и Sage за ваши комментарии. И за поддержку. Но я не вижу в данной статье ничего обидного для меня. Возможно, потому что искренне уверена в том что моя работа не плагиат. Я очень негативно отношусь к прямому копированию работ известных мастеров. И никогда не позволила бы себе это. Хотя был “грех”, однажды я повторила кулон Хелен Браиль)) Но в данной работе центральная бусина лишь внешне похожа на работу Хелен. У меня она полая. У нас совершенно разные технологии. О чем я написала Хелен в комментариях на фб.
Dear Sage and Olga,
I am happy to hear from you both. I better understand where you are coming from now. My point of view is, mostly that the new members of our community are getting fearful and discouraged to post anything they they make on the online polymer groups for fear they will be accused of copying. I myself have attended many classes of great artists. I learned from all of them. I like to learn techniques. And keep them in my pocket for figuring things out for myself. After paying big bucks for many of these classes, I find that a while afterwards, they write a book containing the very same lesson that they taught. Dan Cormier for one, has online tutorials, teaches classes, sells tools to make what he makes. I took his class in Philly. He seems the most upset when people make something similar to him. ? So why teach at all then? Helen, on the other hand is thrilled when someone makes something with her tutorials, and tells them so. She did with me. And when she teaches I’m sure her kids is not falling into pools or trying to climb out 2nd story windows while she sands beads, Just sayin’
Dear Sage and Olga,
I am happy to hear from you both. I better understand where you are coming from now. My point of view is, mostly that the new members of our community are getting fearful and discouraged to post anything they they make on the online polymer groups for fear they will be accused of copying. I myself have attended many classes of great artists. I learned from all of them. I like to learn techniques. And keep them in my pocket for figuring things out for myself. After paying big bucks for many of these classes, I find that a while afterwards, they write a book containing the very same lesson that they taught. Dan Cormier for one, has online tutorials, teaches classes, sells tools to make what he makes. I took his class in Philly. He seems the most upset when people make something similar to him. ? So why teach at all then? Helen, on the other hand is thrilled when someone makes something with her tutorials, and tells them so. She did with me. And when she teaches I’m sure her kids is not falling into pools or trying to climb out 2nd story windows while she sands beads, Just sayin’