| The Aquarium Bead video
by Pati Walton, produced and directed by Marcie Davis, executive producer
Pati Walton, 40 minutes, $39.95.
Reviewed by Kristen Frantzen Orr.
The video opens with a beautifully photographed underwater scene, and
a subtitle that reads ìAnswering the age old question: How did you get those fish
in there anyway?î These opening shots are a good precursor for what is to follow.
The photography and lighting throughout the video are excellent. The answer to
how Walton ìgets the fish in thereî is precisely what the video is about.
Waltonís aquarium bead is full of fish and underwater vegetation created from
a plethora of techniques. Once mastered, any of these techniques could be used
separately or in varying combinations to produce an infinite variety of handmade
glass beads. The way the video is structured, each technique is used more than
once, giving the viewer several opportunities to grasp new concepts. Waltonís
practiced hand makes it look easy, but she is good at pointing out little tips
that might be overlooked.
Soooo. How do those fish get in there? The angelfish are made from dots of
glass that are drawn out with a stringer. The crab is also ìdrawn,î and is manipulate
with tweezers and a tungsten pick. Butterfly fish and clown fish are slices of
murrini cases. Sea urchins are also made from murrini. The seaweed and other underwater
vegetation are made from stringers and filigrana twisties. Goldstone is used to
make the water look like itís moving. The sparkle in the background comes from
dichroic glass. Different elements are layered over each other to give the bead
depth. Walton demonstrates the steps for each element, and explains and shows
how she works with the clear casing glass to keep it from ìscumming.î
After the aquarium bead is finished, Walton is filmed with a huge tortoise
as she talks about her interest in tortoises and turtles. She discusses how she
made the turtle murrini cane that she will use in her button-making demonstration.
I found myself wishing that she had shown the actual construction of the cane.
Perhaps she is saving this subject for a future video.
Next, we are back in the studio to watch her make a paperweight-style button.
Walton shows how she forms the button shank from copper wire and holds it in a
hemostat as she fabricates the button. Again, we see how she lays the murrini
in place and prevents the glass from forming any cloudiness or devitrification.
We get another look at the process of stripping the clear glass to prepare it
for casing. The button demo shows a different direction where the aquarium techniques
can be put to use; and it provides a good review of many of the important points
that were presented earlier.
As the video closes, credits for the production roll over a scene of Walton
and some brightly colored tropical birds. Waltonís skill with glass is key, of
course, but it is certainly well augmented by the quality of the video itself.
The video was filmed in a studio and on location at Marine Scenes and Parrot Jungle
Gardens in Miami. It was produced and directed by Marcie Davis, with Walton listed
as executive producer. Videographers were John Schuster and John Stubbs. Post
production was by Dan Drabik, First Take Productions, Inc. The video was partially
underwritten by Frantz Bead Company and Glass Torch Technologies.
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