Mod Earrings
When I saw these bright colorblock charms, I knew I wanted to make mod earrings. I could picture them being worn by a new art student or perhaps someone who loved 1960s fashion. It took me awhile to come up with this simple design; I kept wanting to complicate it by adding more shapes or colors. In the end, I realized that these simple black, vintage Lucite beads and long, kidney ear wires were the best combination.
Inspiration by Piet Mondrian
Do you recognize the style of these charms? The artist who developed this style of abstract painting was the Dutch painter Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). His work is characterized by the use of lines and blocks of color: red, blue, white, yellow, and black. His unique style has been copied widely, including by a dress by Yves Saint Laurent made in 1965 that is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
I've found some intriguing quotations attributed to Piet Mondrian. Here are a few of my favorites:
- "Intellect confuses intuition."
- "The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel."
- "In art, the search for a content which is collectively understandable is false; the content will always be individual."
Modern Mondrian
I created this Etsy treasury of other Mondrian-inspired items. It's fun to see how this same idea is being reinterpreted by other artists and designers. I imagine Piet would be surprised to see his style being emulated on items like iPhone cases and dog leashes!