A Design a Day – Day 143

Today was a long travel day.  I was flying back from New York and the incoming plane arrived late.  As a result, we boarded about an hour after we should have.  Then, as we taxied down the runway (past the Trump jet) for our takeoff, the pilot pulled us off onto a side runway where we ground to a halt.  The problem, fixed back at the gate two hours later, was a faulty air-speed-indicator heater.  While I do value safety any day, today’s delay was particularly tedious because I was sandwiched in a row between two screaming twin babies directly in front and behind me.  On top of that, their well-meaning and extremely patient mother tried to entertain them with the noise made from repeatedly crumpling a plastic water bottle…crack, pop, Wah!, crack, pop, Wah!, crack, pop, Wah!

At least the long delay gave me a chance to sketch some new designs.  I ended up with five in all which I’ll post over the course of this week.  Here is the first:

Pencil Sketch of Ribbon Pendant with Bead Cascade by Joana Miranda

A Design a Day – Day 142

Today’s design, the last in my seven-day series of earring designs inspired by the seven wonders of the world, was inspired by the Grand Canyon.  Two hundred seventy-seven miles in length, anywhere from 4 to 18 miles in width, and over a mile deep at its deepest, the Grand Canyon in Arizona is thought to have been carved by the meandering Colorado River as far back as 17 million years ago.  The river continues to erode and carve out the canyon today.

Grand Canyon, AZ

My earring design inspired by the Grand Canyon follows:

Watercolor and Gouache Agate and Silver Earring Rendering by Joana Miranda

I chose to incorporate a red agate stone (carved into a doughnut shape) since the variegated bands of color common in this stone remind me of the layers of colors in the rocks of the Grand Canyon.  I also designed this earring with blackened silver.  Originally, the Grand Canyon was inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within its caves.  The Pueblo people considered the Canyon a holy place and made pilgrimages to it.  Native Americans have a long and elegant tradition of working with silver; hence my choice of the metal for this design.

I hope my readers have enjoyed my whirlwind journey to some of the greatest architectural and natural wonders of our world!  In closing this week’s posts I’d like to quote Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (French aviator and writer who lived from 1900-1944):

A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.

A Design a Day – Day 141

Today’s (penultimate) design in my seven-day series of earring designs inspired by the seven wonders of the world, was inspired by a “Modern World Wonder.”   Completed in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA, was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its completion.  Although 8 other bridges around the world now surpass it in span, the Golden Gate bridge remains an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California.

Golden Gate Bridge; San Francisco, CA

The color of the bridge, vermilion orange, known as “International Orange”, was chosen for it standout visibility in fog, as well as its ability to compliment and enhance the natural surroundings.  Originally painted with a lead-based paint and lead top coat, this paint was stripped off in the 1960s to be replaced with non-lead paints.  Today, 38 painters remain on hand to touch up paint as needed.

My design inspired by this modern world wonder follows:Come back tomorrow for the seventh and final earring design inspired by a natural world wonder…the Grand Canyon!

A Design a Day – Day 140

Today’s design, #5 in my seven-day series of earring designs inspired by the seven wonders of the world, was inspired by Bell Rock Lighthouse.  Considered one of the seven “Wonders of the Industrial World”, the 35 meter high lighthouse is located 12 miles off the coast of Angus, Scotland in the North Sea, and was first lit in 1811.  It is the world’s oldest-surviving sea-washed lighthouse and its beam can be seen for 35 statute miles inland.  The masonry work on which the lighthouse stands was constructed to such high standards that it hasn’t been altered or repaired for over 200 years.

Construction of this lighthouse was deemed necessary since the underlying rocks, hidden except for a few hours at low tide, were the scene of many shipwrecks.  The actual construction of the lighthouse ended up going about 50% over budget and claimed the lives of several workers in the process due to storms and accidental drownings.  One worker on the project who had his legs accidentally crushed, ended up petitioning for a job as “lighthouse keeper” which was granted to him.

Bell Rock Lighthouse; North Sea near Angus, Scotland

My earring design inspired by the Bell Rock Lighthouse follows:

Watercolor and Gouache Rock Crystal, White Gold, Blue Sapphire and Diamond Earring Rendering by Joana Miranda

I’ve chosen to use white gold, rock crystal, and gradations of blue sapphires and diamonds in this earring design.  This is perhaps my favorite design in this series, but I’ll let my readers be the judge.  Come back tomorrow to read about the Golden Gate bridge and see the earring design inspired by this Modern World Wonder.

A Design a Day – Day 139

Today’s design in my seven-day series of posts dedicated to designs inspired by the seven wonders of the world, is inspired by the Taj Mahal in India.  Completed in 1648 C.E., the Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal who died while giving birth to the couple’s fourteenth child.

Considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, the Taj Mahl became a Unesco World Heritage site in 1983 and has been cited as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

Taj Mahal; Agra, India

My earring design inspired by this beautiful mausoleum follows:

Watercolor and Goauche White/Yellow Gold and Pearl Earring Rendering by Joana Miranda

My next design in this series was inspired by an Industrial World Wonder…come back tomorrow to learn about the Bell Rock Lighthouse!

A Design a Day – Day 138

Day 3 in my seven-day series of earring designs dedicated to the seven wonders of the world, comes from a list of Seven Wonders of Portugal.  Since Portugal is my country of birth and a rich part of my cultural background, I felt the need to include it this week.

Built in 1521 and now a Unesco World Heritage Site, the Torre de Belém (Tower of Belém) is located in Belém, Portugal just outside Lisbon.  Constructed of lioz limestone, this fortified tower is a prominent example of the Manueline Style in Portuguese architecture.  The tower was commissioned by Portuguese King John II to be both part of a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus River, as well as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon:

Torre de Belem (Tower of Belem) in Portugal

The Torre de Belém is among one of my favorite places to visit when I’m in Portugal.   The romance of seeing a castle-like structure seemingly floating on the water is one draw for me;  another is that only in Belém can you get the famous “pasteis de Belém”, or sweet custard Belém tarts:

Pasteis de Belem (Belem Tarts)

My earring design inspired by the Torre de Belém follows:

Watercolor and Gouache Yellow and White Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Earring by Joana Miranda

And, here I am two summers ago sitting near the Torre de Belém on my first day of vacation in Portugal with my husband:

Joana at the Torre de Belem, Portugal

Please come back tomorrow to see my earring design inspired by the Taj Mahal!

A Design a Day – Day 137

Day 2 in my seven-day series dedicated to the seven wonders of the world, was inspired by Chitzen Itza in Mexico.  This Unesco World Heritage site, which dates back to 600 C.E., is comprised of a series of stone buildings, pyramids and roads.  The site’s main building, El Castillo, earned designation as one of the seven wonders of the world in 2007 after a world-wide vote.  However, this designation was not without controversy since the vote was sponsored by a commercial enterprise and the site’s partly government/partly private ownership still raises debate.

El Castillo at Chitzen Itza, Mexico

Over the past few years the National Institute of Anthropology and History, which manages the site, has closed the monuments to public access.  While people can still walk around them, climbing them is no longer possible.  The most recent closing was the above El Castillo structure in 2006 after a San Diego, CA woman fell to her death.  (My mother and sister climbed El Castillo just a few years earlier!)

My earring design inspired by El Castillo follows:

Watercolor and Gouache Yellow Gold and Diamond Earring Rendering by Joana Miranda

A Design a Day – Day 136

Sometimes I ask my husband for inspiration on “what to design next”.  Recently, he suggested a Seven Wonders of the World theme, which I found an intriguing idea.  However, when I started poking around the internet to familiarize myself with the list of seven world wonders, I discovered that there are actually many lists, and also some controversy about what constitutes a “Wonder of the World.”   Some of these lists include only “ancient wonders”, others “natural wonders,” and even others “wonders for profit.”   I decided to pick and choose from the various lists to put together a list which goes chronologically from ancient to modern and includes man-made triumphs as well as natural wonders, and wonders for profit among the midst.

The list I came up with follows:

1.  Pyramid of Giza  (Ancient World Wonder)

2.  Chitzen Itza (World Wonder/Monument for Profit)

3. Torre de Belem (Seven World Wonders of Portugal, my country of origin)

3.  Taj Mahal (Medieval World Wonder)

5.  Bell Rock Lighthouse (Industrial World Wonder)

6.  Golden Gate Bridge (Modern World Wonder)

7.  Grand Canyon (Natural World Wonder)

I decided to do a series of earring designs based on each of these world wonders.  The first world wonder, the Great Pyramid of Giza, is the only ancient world wonder still in existence today:

The Great Pyramid of Giza

Built as a tomb for the fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharoah Khufu, this pyramid took over 20 years to build and was completed around 2551 BC.  For over 3800 years this pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world!

My design is inspired by both the pyramid shape and the warmth and golden tones of the surrounding sand and landscape:

Watercolor and Gouache Yellow Gold, Diamond and Lapis Earring Rendering by Joana Miranda

In addition, I decided to incorporate lapis lazuli inlay and channel-set diamonds.  Lapis lazuli inlay was commonly found in jewelry of this period; faceted diamonds certainly were not.  However, I felt that the diamonds added balance and richness to the overall design.

Come back tomorrow to learn about Chitzen Itza and see the design that was inspired by this world wonder.

A Design a Day – Day 135

Yesterday I posted a heart pendant rendering done with colored pencil on vellum paper.  Here is the side view of the same heart pendant:

Colored Pencil and Gouache Heart Pendant (Side View) Rendering by Joana Miranda

Tomorrow I’ll be embarking on another seven day blog design project.  This time, my focus will be a set of earring designs inspired by the seven wonders of the world.  Of course, there are varying opinions on just what should qualify as a “wonder of the world”, and no one list is definitive.  I’ve done my best to pick judiciously and evenly from the various “official” lists.  I’ve also tried to combine some natural wonders with man-made triumphs…I’ve even included a design inspired by a lighthouse.  Curious?  Come back  tomorrow for the first design which was inspired by the only surviving ancient world wonder.

A Design a Day – Day 134

I did today’s design a few years ago for a heart-themed jewelry design competition:

Colored Pencil and Gouache Heart Pendant with Pearl Drop by Joana Miranda

I really like this design, although I would redesign a few elements now.  Namely, I’d make the thickness of the metal more obvious (judges like to see a design that is beautiful but also capable of being fabricated), and I’d also find a better solution for the non-pearl end of the “ribbon”.

For this competition, I needed to create a design that showed both front and side views.  I found myself a little at a loss for how to visualize the side view of this rather complicated heart knot.  My husband had the brilliant idea of suggesting that I use some of his lead golf tape.  This tape is usually used to increase the swingweight of a golf club, but it is very useful for us designers and jewelers because it is malleable, yet strong enough to maintain any shape in which it is bent.  In the case of this pendant, I cut the lead tape into long strip which was 4 mm wide.  Then I twisted and looped the length until I produced the shape I had in my mind.  Once created, I could view my lead-tape heart from every angle; this provided me with the visual reference for creating the rendering above and its side view, which I’ll post tomorrow.