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Christina Manes - Farouche
Category: Body Adornment.
After many sketches, my entry started with a styrofoam wreath cut and glued to size. The form was then covered with papier maché. The skin was made with a combination of brick and peyote stitches. Larger beads helped create stretch points to curve the skin around the form. The body skin and face skin were done separately and then joined. Fringe was added last.
Dragons have been in my life for as long as I can remember! I grew upon "Puff the Magic Dragon," heard all of the fairy tales with dragons, and read "Lord of the Rings." As an adult I've traveled through Europe visiting castle after castle with moats and legends intact. One castle in Poland had even built a dragon out of wrought iron to guard the entrance–every 15 minutes he would 'breathe fire'!
Medieval history and legends have always fascinated me. As an artist (chalk pastel) and a doll maker the medieval influence continually creeps into my characters and costumes. Renaissance festivals are another favorite pastime for me.
I was reintroduced to beadwork about 1 1/2 years ago (a far cry from girl scout daisy rings!). Up until Farouche, my beadwork had been limited to designing amulet bags, making beaded beads, and beaded bottles. I don't know where beading will take me in the future but I'm very happy with where it's taken me so far. Some day I would like to go back to Europe and if I could mix my art and beading into that I couldn't ask for anything else!!
During the dark ages of Merlin there existed an ancient race of creatures called dragons.
They were beautiful creatures, often considered to represent the connection between heaven and earth, and to have wisdom and strength. Despite this knowledge, the dragons were misunderstood, feared, and hunted into near extinction.
One lone dragon found refuge in the mountains, hiding from those that would do her harm. Through the years people forgot about the existence of dragons until they eventually became a myth. Many a creature became extinct simply because people no longer saw them.. .and they forgot to believe!
“Credendo vides," by believing, one sees! Sometimes the belief of a small child (or inner child) can bring one of these rare creatures back into existence.. .I believe!