dramatic necklace Archives

Befriending a dragon

Dragons are magical. Their scales glimmer. Their eyes shine. Their wings take us soaring to far-off, mystical places. Of course, they do have the ability to breathe fire from that huge snout or slice with fang and claw. But the dragons of my imagination befriend us humble humans for exciting adventures.

Given my love for fantasy and embroidered tales, it was only natural that dragons came into my art bead collection. It was a lovely day, perusing the work of my bead-maker friend, Robin Poff, when I saw her dragons made in art glass.

It was fairy-tale love at first sight. Ivory in color, her glass dragons are pure whimsy and imagination. Three-dimensional and weighty, and each one has its own personality and facial expression. I had to have them.

Another lampwork artist, Kerri Fuhr, also conjures dragons from glass. I began to collect her beautiful beasts more recently. Her two-dimensional portraits have lots of texture and dragon colors like gorgeous blue-green, emerald, and chartreuse. And those quintessential fierce eyes!

Dressing with dragons

I love using dragons in my necklaces. Wearing one helps you be feisty and fanciful at the same time. Dragons help shy people express their bold alter ego. If you want to feel brave, keep a dragon close to you. Their big, powerful presence will inspire you to be courageous.

I dream of dragons

I once found The Dragonology Handbook, A Practical Course in Dragons by Ernest Drake. It lists all the different kinds of dragons—just like an Audubon bird book—and includes Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Dragonology lessons.

If I had my own dragon, it would be pink and sparkly with wings. It would breathe fire with glitter. My dragon would fly at sunrise and visit me to be scratched behind its ears and fed hard-boiled eggs. Until that happens, I’ll keep including glass dragons in my art.

My dragon necklaces

Because the dragon beads are glass, the pieces I make with them are heavy. (See my article on how to wear dramatic art necklaces with confidence.) My dragon necklaces are carefully balanced, designed to rest on the breastbone, rather than hang (or possibly pull) on the neck. Several of the lovely beasts pictured in this article now belong to collectors and inhabit a shadow box or a neck stand perch for viewing.

If you had a dragon, what would yours look like?

Put it on!

A lot of people own a statement necklace, but hesitate to wear it. Art pieces draw attention, so you might feel awkward if you’re not sure it “works” with your outfit.

Want to wear dramatic art jewelry with confidence and style? I have some ideas for you!

Monarch Duet necklace (c) 2016 Melanie Schow -- a dramatic statement necklace

How to wear a statement necklace with flair

It’s easy if you make showcasing the art your primary goal. Your clothing becomes the gallery wall that makes its artwork stand out.

Dark backdrop: To make your necklace pop, wear dark clothing that accentuates its design. A black, boat-neck dress or velvet top highlights the necklace’s colors and sparkle

Bright, solid backdrop: Choose a color from the piece and wear a solid top in that shade. This allows you to wear something colorful without overpowering the piece. An alternate way to add color would be to wear a matching-color jacket or skirt.

Nude backdrop: If you wear a dramatic piece on any shade of flesh-colored clothing, it provides a simple canvas for the art. You can also wear a low-cut top or dress so the piece is displayed against your skin.

Use caution with patterned clothing: It takes a skilled eye to combine patterns and statement pieces. Because prints add more visual elements, they can be too busy and detract from the necklace’s effect. If you want to try patterns, choose those that have low contrast and the same color spectrum (all reds, for example).

If you check your closet, you’ll probably have at least one item you can wear with a statement necklace.

Morning Song rooster necklace wire art jewelry

Why wear dramatic art?

The most fun part of wearing a statement piece is people’s reaction. When you wear something dramatic, it gives you a kind of freedom and license to be someone different. Very often, you get a compliments and attention wearing something bold.

It’s a joyful experience. I’m reminded of the artist Susan Golden—wearing primary colors and her great big beaded bangle bracelets—carrying off a style all her own. Get inspired, see how it’s done in Advanced Style, a photo book about New York’s most fashionable older women by Ari Seth Cohen. It features lots of over-60 women looking classy, dramatic, artistic. They’re my sheroes!

Classy, brave, inspired. This is how I want people to feel when they’re wearing my statement necklaces.

Where to wear your statement necklace

To the supermarket, of course! If you love wearing dramatic jewelry, be bold, and wear it for no occasion at all. If it makes you happy, put it on. Take yourself to dinner. Wear it to an art event. One of my favorite customers bought a piece from me and then shared it with her sister. They take turns wearing it to events.

And—since you can’t wear a dramatic necklace every day—you can also display it as art. One of my friends hangs hers in a shadowbox and another shows hers on a neck stand. Instead of tucked away in a jewelry box, you can enjoy looking at it all the time. Why not display it as art?

The most important thing is to enjoy your art jewelry.

If it’s something you love, just wear it. You can carry off anything. You just have to DO it!

Here there be (friendly) dragons