Artist of the Month: Lesley McIver
Lesley McIver is an amazing glass artist. She specializes in stunning glass beads and glass bead jewelry. So much of Lesley’s personality comes out in her work, as does the inspiration she gains living surrounded by natural beauty. If you know the Lord of the Rings movies, you will recognize some of this area’s beauty she works with in Golden Bay, New Zealand.
The vibrant and fun CanCan series always reminds me how important it is to laugh and play. I am totally intrigued with the Summer Wave series as I feel as though I want to become a part of those beads and allow my body to feel those waves washing over me. Lesley’s Chakra Bracelet is wildly popular and you feel so good wearing it. So many of her bead designs are clearly inspired by the earth and the environs of Golden Bay – such as Paua Shells and Fossils. Her Seaglass series combines silver with truly beautiful glass which creates beads that appear to have been tumbled in the sea.
Some Summer Waves – these have been a lot of fun. They represent the bay that I live in – Golden Bay – the shape of the swirl is the shape of the bay in the remote North Western corner of the South Island of New Zealand, and it is also a powerful symbol in my culture – the “koru” - a symbol of new life. I often etch these to make them look like sea glass, and they’re made with silvered ivory glass and pure silver wire within the glass.
Lesley’s heart is huge. She often promotes other artisians and does work relating to charities. This is clear with the Playtime beads she creates for children suffering with childhood cancer. Working with the Beads of Courage program, Lesley donates handmade beads to the Child Cancer Foundation to be used as treatment encouragement for these very, very special children.
Please visit Lesley McIver’s web site at www.glitz.co.nz You can also find her in her shop, Traders of the Lost Arts, in Golden Bay, New Zealand. Now, go and enjoy these beauties. Can you find a favorite?
Purple Silvered Seaglass – This is an example of what I do not being rocket science. Just a simple yet complex treatment of this glass brings out amazing colour from the minerals within. The application of pure silver droplets alters the glass even further.
How long have you been an artist?
I’ve been working in glass for over ten years now, but before that my materials were all kinds of fibre, with my most recent obsession being embroidery. I’ve been told that that this “texture” is evident in my beads, and there is something of the method and rhythm of embroidery in making beads the way I do.
Strangely, I made my first beads when I was 11 years old – love beads made from drilled seeds, so the interest in adornment has always been there.
This is a bead showing the flow of the glass – like water – with the swirl of the land meeting the sea. Multiple greens and silvered ivory glass.
Is your art your full-time career?
Yes – I make a small living from my hands, and for this I feel very blessed. This does, however, put pressure on the creative process – some times good and sometimes not-so-good. The good is that working to a client’s brief means I need to extend myself out of my comfort zone. The not-so-good means that I sometimes have to squash the creative urge and just get the work done! Also, attaching the dollar signs to the creative process can be a little confining. Sometimes I need to remind myself to just cut loose and play without worrying about the end product!
Fossils – use of pure silver foil, silvered ivory glass to give a reptilian effect
Chakra Bracelet – based on the chakras (the natural energy centres of the body) which are expressed as lotus flowers in colours to reflect each energy centre
Where do you work? How long have you been there?
I live and work in beautiful Golden Bay, on the remote North-Western tip of the South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand. We have a little main street studio/workroom, which I share with my partner who makes old-fashioned wooden toys.
Paua Shells – Ivory glass with “pools” of teal glass which is made with copper, which reacts with the ivory glass. The pools are hollowed and filled with clear glass, giving a gorgeous opalescence – so hard to photograph!
The CanCan - A classic of mine – simple base with bright, bright colour. A simple statement of colour and fun.
What does a typical day look like? Is there a typical day?
My typical day begins with an hour’s walk on our local beach, followed by yoga and/or meditation. Glass bead-making is so still and intense that a good workout and stretch is an important part of my routine. Also those practices fill me up and focus me for the day ahead.
Peacock Colours Lotus Flowers Necklace
Egyptian Priestess Magic Eye Beads – these were inspired by beads found intact in necklace form on the 2000 + year old remains of an Egyptian goddess. She was buried wearing her magic beads – believed to be that way because of the colours used (lapis, ochre, turquoise) and the “eye” design.
What materials do you prefer?
Until recently I always worked with Murano glass – Effetre and Morretti, but recently – after spending a lot of time “talking” to other artisans online, I have expanded my range to beautiful silver infused American glass and even some Chinese glass.
My hands working the glass in the flame.
Golden Bay Landscape
Where/how are you inspired?
I’ve always been inspired by peace and natural surroundings, antique china, beautiful fabrics and flowers. When all else fails, I will sit and gaze at my glass stash and soak up colour. Inspiration is never far away there.
Autumn Leaves
Rose Red
Do you work on one or more pieces at a time?
Oh yes! I begin pieces and lay the accumulating beads up in trays. Sometimes it can take years for the finished pieces to finally emerge!
Kim Rodeffer Funk is the Art Editor for Wandering Educators. She notes, "I am an abstract painter and have enjoyed living a creative life for many years. In 2012, I co-founded Atelier 325 with Andrea Hupke de Palacio, and today show my art in Europe and the United States."
You can find her at http://www.kimrodefferfunk.net/
All photos courtesy and copyright Lesley McIver
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