SUSAN STORTINI

susanstortini@bellnet.ca

www.stortinibeads.com

Susan has worked with various types of artistic media before she finally found the one she can finally call home. As a matter of fact she cannot remember at time when she was not involved in the arts in some way or other.

As a child she collected marbles, beads, buttons and playing cards and played with them almost exclusively.

Her glass affliction started many years ago when she was on a steering committee and she was introduced to glass bead making. At that time, information and instruction was hard to come to and most of her beads were trial by fire. (No pun intended)

Like many, Her first source of information was Cindy Jenkins first book. Fortunately, she was able to take some wonderful workshops with some excellent bead makers and attend some of the ISGB gatherings.

Susan likes to make her beads representational based on talismanic or mythological themes. However, Images from the Hubble telescope have been some wonderful sources of inspiration. Nebulas, fractal geometric patterns and the vast images found in both space and the oceans are among the many types of beads she likes to make. With the recent planetary climatic conditions some of Susanís beads have been reflecting the geometry of weather patterns.

Mixing frit, CZís foils and shards give endless possibilities in creating the mood of these beads.

Her favorite beads to make are the ìeyeî beads. Her first beads she attempted at the torch were all types of variations of them. These types of beads are not only are ìeye catchingî but have a long history of magical and mystical attributes throughout many ancient civilizations and cultures.

However bright happy primary colors also find there way in to her work. The amazing array of color found in the ìsoft glassî just lends itself to total fun and creative expression. Color is such a positive mood lifter that just looking at them is cheerful experience.