For my next bracelet design, I decided to venture into a more creative direction, inspired by the abundance of dark coloured beads I had on hand. As I examined the beads, I noticed a mix of dark tones, primarily deep browns and reds that changed with different lighting. I initially paired these with lighter colours to contrast the depth, eventually settling on a light yellow. While the combination was visually appealing, it lacked a certain charm and felt slightly flat. I needed something subtle yet impactful to balance the design, so I experimented with dark green, which immediately added an earthy richness and brought cohesion to the bracelet.
As the design developed, the dark tones began to evoke a natural, earthy essence, which I wanted to deepen. I added lighter shades of brown to enhance this grounded vibe, enriching the piece’s character and connecting the darker shades with warmth. Although I was pleased with the direction, something still felt off, the balance between colours wasn’t quite right. I realised that the light yellow was too dominant and needed more subtlety, so I minimised its use and incorporated darker shades of yellow. This adjustment brought harmony to the design and aligned the colours more closely with the natural theme I envisioned.
Reflecting on the creative process, I found that working with dark tones other than black presented an intriguing challenge in balancing elegance with subtlety. This challenge has motivated me to explore even more nature inspired palettes in future projects. My pet snake was a surprising muse for this design, its earthy tones and smooth, elegant patterns added inspiration to the piece’s aesthetic. I look forward to introducing more about my snake inspiration and sharing insights from this unique and exotic pet in a future post.
CONCLUSION
This design journey highlighted the beauty of subtle contrasts and taught me how small adjustments can dramatically improve a piece’s harmony. Inspired by nature’s quiet elegance and my pet’s unique colours, I’m excited to continue exploring ways to translate those influences into my work. This experience marks just one step in a creative journey, and I’m eager to see how these earthy tones and other inspirations will shape future designs.
