DBM: Tell us about your lifestyle – how does creating
beading fit into your life?
OS: Creating jewellery and accessories from beads - that’s
half of my life. The other half - is my family. I could be
called a housewife engaged in a hobby. I work in my little
studio, where I’m comfortable. And the rest of the time I
devote to relatives. Everyone is happy
DBM: How do your designs come about - what’s your
creative process?
OS: It’s always different. Sometimes I draw a lot of sketches before I line up the image and then pick up beads,
stones, lace and other pieces. Other times I may come
across some unique material (stone, antique metal buttons, etc) that dictates the environment and I design
jewellery for it. Sometimes I’ll have some image sitting in
my head for a long time, but it does not add up. Then I’ll
accidentally find some stone and the image is immediately determined.
I do not like to draw so, often I’ll mould the image in
my head, slowly, piece by piece. I draw and count only
the technical aspects (patterns, charts). Sometimes it is
necessary to see the colours, then I do a colour sketch on
paper. Often I need three-dimensional models on paper.
Then I get samples, if necessary. After the preparatory
work, I immediately begin the process of creating the
product.
Do you have other artistic pursuits – or only jewellery
design?
OS: Designing jewellery and accessories from beads - this
is my main artistic activity. Although I know many kinds
of crafts, beads have not let me go for almost eight years.
DBM: Do you have favourite beads and bead shapes to
create with?
OS: I like working with small beads – Size 15/0 rocailles they are the right beads to create any form. Also, I really
like charlottes - they give a nice effect in bead embroidery.
DBM: And do you have colours you prefer to work
with?
OS: I love the colours of northern nature. Terse, but inspiring. I used to work in one or two colours in my beadwork. Then I realised that I need to pay more attention to
the colour palette of my bead work. I learned a lot about
colours and colour combinations. As a result, the colours
in my works have become more diverse and people began
to notice it – this is good. At the same time I realised that,
for me, perfection is still very far away.