Today I am featuring Diana Ptaszynski. She is a new online friend and I love her work as well as her personality. Come and meet her for yourself -
VITALS
* She
is married.
* No
Kids…yet.
* Her
pets - 1 serious kitty, 1 quizzical kitty and 1 silly kitty
* Her hobbies are metalsmithing, cycling,
antiquing and self-deprecation “(laughter
IS the best medicine)”
 |
| FUNNY FACE - Her alter-ego! |
BFF: What do you
do with beads?
DIANA: I play with
mud (ie I make porcelain, stoneware and raku beads and pendants). I also make jewelry, although lately it’s
mostly for publication or myself.
BFF: How would you
describe your role in the beading world?
DIANA: I make art beads for jewelry designers to create with. Ok, let’s just admit it…most of us hoard our
art beads.
BFF: How long have
you been working with beads?
DIANA: I started making beaded
jewelry at the end of 2004 and I began creating my own art beads in the Fall of
2009.
BFF: What is your
style? And what attracts you to this style?
DIANA: I’m not
certain I have a “style”. I like so many different things… my work is inspired
by my love of antiques, nature and random objects. I work in a basement and
sometimes I just find things on the floor.
Yup, even floor junk inspires me.
BFF: What are your
favorite metals to use?
DIANA: sterling silver, copper and brass
BFF: What is your
favorite stringing medium to use?
DIANA: Sterling silver half-hard wire if I’m wire-wrapping
and soft flex if I’m stringing.
BFF: What is your
favorite color palette?
DIANA: Blue and Green. If it reminds me of tropical waters then I’m in love.
BFF: Your
technique(s)?
DIANA: I’ve gotten so good at wire-wrapping I could probably
do it with my eyes closed. I also enjoy playing
with fire, so… raku, torch-enameling and soldering.
BFF: What else
would you like to try your hand at?
DIANA: Not lampworking. I tried it a few times with my husband’s
set-up (yes, he dabbles in glass) and all I ended up doing is making little
glass boogers that fell off the mandrel.
I’ll stick with earth clay.
BFF: Other
artist/designer(s) you admire? Any special reason why?
DIANA: Diane Hawkey. Her work is colorful, quirky and fun. Joan Miller is also a favorite. Her
porcelain is stunningly detailed and can be mistaken for lampwork. AMAZING!
BFF: Where do you
want to be in 5 years from now?
DIANA: I have a few big things I’d like to accomplish
between now and then but just like with Fight Club, the first rule of Fight
Club is you don’t talk about Fight Club.
;-)
BFF: What’s your favorite
quote or saying?
DIANA: I
don’t think my favorite sayings are appropriate for this forum…hehe.
BFF: Any advice
you'd give to new artists who are just beginning in your medium?
DIANA: Take classes, experiment and play! Also, you can contact members of BOC (Beadsof Clay). They are a super helpful group
dedicated to earth clay beads. I’m a
member of their professional team (BOCPAT) and we do love helping with
questions when we can!
BFF: What is your
favorite blog that you like to follow?
DIANA: Art Bead Scene. A blog dedicated entirely to art beads…what’s
not to like about that? Also, ABS is
partially to blame for me becoming an art bead artist.
BFF: What has
been your favorite Blog Hop or Challenge?
DIANA: Bead Soup (and anything I’ve run on my own blog. I’ve made so many friends
thanks to blog hops.
Quirky questions often give us a better understanding of the
real person behind the artist, so here goes…
BFF: If you had
all the money in the world, what would you buy?
DIANA: A condo on the beach on some awesome tropical island
and a funky bead shop/studio filled with art beads and gemstones. (Editor's Note: Well I have a beach and a funky bead shop down the block, so come visit me in the meantime!!)
BFF: As a child
what was your favorite cartoon or tv show? why?
DIANA: X-Men. I’ve always wanted super powers besides the
ability to chew people’s ears off. (Editor's Note: Okay, that's quirky!)
BFF: Favorite toy
as a child? why?
DIANA: My raggy bunny. It’s a stuffed bunny I’ve had since I was
real little. I still have her even
though she’s quite threadbare.
BFF: Favorite
subject in school? why?
DIANA: Not math. We never got along. History is where it’s at!
Last words from Diana -
"When the zombie invasion hits, I'm stealing all your art beads".
Well Diana doesn't seem to want to toot her own horn BUT she is a very talented artist. She has been published in many different magazines including Bead Trends , Bead Design and Bead Unique.
Next week is Bead Fest in Philadelphia and Diana will be there as a vendor - Suburban Girl Studio in booth #564. If you are planning to attend be sure to stop by and check out her work! (I am finally getting to meet her in person - excited!!)
Suburban Girl Studio LLC
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