Jewelry Design

[statik367]

Hello all,

I am new to the forums, and also to wire wrapping in general. I've watched a bunch of YouTube videos, and found some amazing patterns online, but I would like to branch out and design my own stuff instead of just copying others. As much as I can find info on the technique of wire wrapping, I can't seem to find anything on the design of it.

How do you all design your pieces? Do you draw, do you wing it? If you draw, how detailed do you get. Anyone have any examples they could show? Anyone have any good resources they could point me to on this topic specifically?

Thank you for your time and I look forward to reading your responses.

[vegasjames]

Welcome From Southern Nevada.

[cabby]

I don’t do wire wrapping, but have had tons of other handicraft hobbies! For leather handbags I bought a bag design book that has diagrams and descriptions of various potential parts, such as different pocket designs. For quilting I have a three ring binder with printouts of different blocks layout patterns. For clothing I have a variety of books with fashion plates, historical textile embellishments, sewing books with various part options (different pocket designs, collars, etc).
When I make things I tend to pick and choose ideas from my reference books to piece together, and either write myself notes or attempt a sketch of my ideas. I suck at drawing so badly that I can’t even recognize it myself, so typically either write a description or make a hack-up in photoshop

[rockbrain]

I draw on occasion but usually just wing it. I'll qualify that a little. Usually I work it out in my head without actually picking up pencil and paper. Sometimes it takes me a couple of days to work out the design. I've never been very good on the drawing end. I took a ceramics class and we had to draw thumbnails for all our projects. I drew a violin shaped box. When I made the project somehow it morphed into a tray with a Japanese style stork design etched into the top. I think it can be very helpful to start with tutorials. It gives you a good idea of basic structure and gives you some guidance at the beginning on what works. The hardest part for me was trying to develop my own style. I think one of the mistakes I made is I concentrated on tutorials that were mostly from one person. If you look at a bunch of different tutes from different wrappers you can combine things and I think it's easier to come up with your own style. I've finally set up a file and started saving all the pics of wraps that I come across online that I like. I'll sometimes look through these and then do my own version of something I like.

[jasoninsd]

Jul 31, 2024 13:54:54 GMT -5 rockbrain said:

I draw on occasion but usually just wing it. I'll qualify that a little. Usually I work it out in my head without actually picking up pencil and paper. Sometimes it takes me a couple of days to work out the design. I've never been very good on the drawing end. I took a ceramics class and we had to draw thumbnails for all our projects. I drew a violin shaped box. When I made the project somehow it morphed into a tray with a Japanese style stork design etched into the top. I think it can be very helpful to start with tutorials. It gives you a good idea of basic structure and gives you some guidance at the beginning on what works. The hardest part for me was trying to develop my own style. I think one of the mistakes I made is I concentrated on tutorials that were mostly from one person. If you look at a bunch of different tutes from different wrappers you can combine things and I think it's easier to come up with your own style. I've finally set up a file and started saving all the pics of wraps that I come across online that I like. I'll sometimes look through these and then do my own version of something I like.

...I seriously could have written all the above regarding how I do it too...like ALL of it!

[susand24224]

I agree with all of the above--try out some tutorials, if just to get the feel of how things come together and to learn some basic skills. Then look at what you are wrapping. What is the pattern? The shape? How can you accent the shape/pattern to really bring it out? If a complex pattern, how can you add just a little to compliment the stone; if (for example) solid-colored, what would you like to add? After you get the basics down, this part will become easier. I'll add that although I will sketch (I draw several outlines around the stone to start my sketch) my finished designs rarely look like the sketch that I drew--it just sort of falls into place as I work. Or out of place.

[chris1956]

Welcome from Missouri.

[hummingbirdstones]

Welcome from Northern Arizona!

I will use tutorials and I wing it.  Just depends on what it is I want to do.  Tutorials are great for learning various techniques or styles of wrapping.  Once you have the techniques under your belt, you can pretty much create whatever it is you want.  I don't draw, mainly because I suck at it.  

[drocknut]

I don't draw well either, so I usually just wing it. I've tried tracing the cab and then designing the wrap, but it never comes out the way I drew it, but I think that's a good thing since I suck at drawing...lol.
I do have a file on my computer of different wire wraps I've seen that I like, and sometimes I look through the pictures for inspiration and then just wing it on the wrap anyway.
Tutorials are good for learning techniques.

[statik367]

Thank you everyone for all the advice. I'm also pretty bad at drawing, but I have ideas, and I didn't know if making a basic sketch up front will help me with the general idea. Kind of like what most of you said, get a rough idea on paper, but then elaborate on it after. So, I guess I will continue to go with that plan.

[jasoninsd]

Aug 8, 2024 9:43:48 GMT -5 statik367 said:

Thank you everyone for all the advice. I'm also pretty bad at drawing, but I have ideas, and I didn't know if making a basic sketch up front will help me with the general idea. Kind of like what most of you said, get a rough idea on paper, but then elaborate on it after. So, I guess I will continue to go with that plan.

There are some people whose drawings look SO elaborate and extremely detailed...to the point of looking like a darn black and white picture. I'm not one of those people! LOL - My drawings (when I rarely do one) look like a stick-figure of a rock. Now try to imagine that!  LOL