On the threshold of something great
As promised, we want to share some more of our favourite details from the artworks that are the sources of inspiration in Art Jewels [link no longer active] — the jewelry design contest of SMK + Shapeways.
L.A. Ring, At the French Windows. The Artist’s Wife, 1897, Statens Museum for Kunst. Public domain
Every day when we look at the new entries that come in, we are amazed at the high level of creativity and ingenuity that participants put into their designs. It’s incredibly inspiring for us here at SMK to see what kinds of details and motifs you pick up in the artworks, and what imaginative things you turn them into. We just wish to see this flow of creativity continue… which is why we decided to extend the contest to 23 June!
In other words, you all have an additional week to look closely at the artworks, be inspired, and create new designs. In this post, we want to highlight a few of the stunning details of two masterpieces in our collection: A lush garden view with The artist’s wife by Danish painter L.A. Ring, and a spectacular piece of optical illusion or Trompe l’oeil painted by Gijsbrechts, Flemish painter in the service of the Danish throne.
Ring, At the French Windows. The Artist’s Wife, 1897
Detail of At the French Windows. The Artist’s Wife (1897) by L.A. Ring
A significant detail that lept to our eyes when choosing this painting for the contest is the multitude of softly rounded shapes dispersed all over the composition — the pom-poms on the fringe of the curtain, the curry-coloured fabric roses on Sigrid’s dress, and the white blotches of apple blossoms amidst all the green outside the door.
Detail of At the French Windows. The Artist’s Wife (1897) by L.A. Ring
Detail of At the French Windows. The Artist’s Wife (1897) by L.A. Ring
The gnarled tree trunk is full of intricately shaped tangible forms. At the same time, it frames a couple of remarkable negative spaces.
Gijsbrechts, Trompe l’Oeil with Trumpet, Celestial Globe and Proclamation by Frederik III, 1670
Cornelius Norbertus Gijsbrechts, Trompe l’Oeil with Trumpet, Celestial Globe and Proclamation by Frederik III, 1670, Statens Museum for Kunst. Public domain
Detail of Trompe l’Oeil with Trumpet, Celestial Globe and Proclamation by Frederik III (1670) by Gijsbrechts
Exotic conchs, precious chains of pearls, sumptuous fabrics, bright red corals, elegantly wrought calligraphy. This is a veritable Wunderkammer of inspiration.
Detail of Trompe l’Oeil with Trumpet, Celestial Globe and Proclamation by Frederik III (1670) by Gijsbrechts
Halfway hidden under a striped piece of cloth in brilliant colours, a celestial globe with renderings of the zodiac signs is visible. The brass trumpet, the woven tapestry, the colourful pom-poms, the edgy metal instruments — so many shapes, hues and textures!
We hope you feel as inspired as we do, as we enter into the final week of the Art Jewels contest. Maybe your design will be among the finalists that featured at SMK. Best of luck!
Deadline for submissions is extended to 23 June 2017. https://www.shapeways.com/contests/smk-open-jewelry [link no longer active]