Simple Black Impact

I wear a lot of black. No, it’s not out of some morbid aesthetic. I just find it to be a fantastic background for anything I add to my attire. And being the klutz with an insatiable curiosity, I know that I am less likely to end up with noticeable stains if I detour through the studio on the way out of the house for dinner after being struck by a random idea or find myself tromping into a field enticed by some color or texture — my wardrobe is determined primarily by the rule that what I wear should not stop me from exploring as situations arise.

But black has a purpose beyond being a background. It can also be a the focus of your ensemble. This stunning lentil bead by Judy Belcher is one such example. Simple, understated but enticing,  this piece’s impact comes from the starkness of the predominant black with only the quiet interruption of the lines of brown and the two pearly accents to break it up. In work like this where color is minimal, form and texture take precedence.

It is a piece like this that would get me to pull out one of my few white outfits to give it the simple ‘background’ the piece deserves.

In a medium dominated by tons of color, it is easily forgotten how well polymer can present a limited palette and the non-colors of black and white. We have many, many color options with our material and the ability to create sophisticated and stunning work in a way other jewelry material cannot. But it doesn’t mean we always need to use color. Try working with a piece in all black or all white and see just where form and surface texture can take you.