SPOTLIGHT ON ... DESIGNER
January 2010
Our featured designer for this month is Zoya Gutina
I was born and raised in the USSR but for more than 12 years I have been living in the United States in New York City and now in Alexandria, Virginia. I hold a Diploma from the College of Culture in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia. I love Saint Petersburg with its architecture, museums, palaces, and golden-doomed cathedrals. There is no doubt, the years I spent in my youth in this culture capital city of Russia influenced and influences now my beadwork. Some of my friends call me "nature inspired", and that's also true! I like blossoming trees and flowers in spring, geometric frozen shapes in winter, or watch beautiful colors during sunrise and sunset. Changing nature stirs my emotions, inspires me and captures my spirit.
I touched first those itty-bitty beautiful things named beads when I was 10 and needed to embellish my ballet practicing dress. I embroidered on the cream-colored dress very pale yellow flowers, and was pretty satisfied with my beadwork. That was my first beading experience. I returned to beadwork about 8 years ago, when I already lived in New York City, influenced by a friend of mine from Russia who showed me some samples of her bead woven jewelry pieces and presented me a few.
I think that my signature piece is Autumn Splendor necklace. In 2007 I was suggested by a friend of mine Joan Jensen of Tazwood Creations to try wooden cabochons she makes, and agreed. I was so impressed by their texture and colors, that the pleasure to work with those cabochons was all mine! I've got a lot at that time; Autumn Splendor is still my "lovely child".
I like netting stitch, peyote stitch, right angle weave, and coral stitch best of all. And, of course, depending on my ideas and designs I use different techniques sometimes incorporating a few of them into one piece. It's very exciting to make my thoughts a reality! I'm always looking forward to putting together all elements I create for my new project! I'm playing with them, making up new combinations, trying to approach
harmony in shape and in colors, that I think is the greatest challenge in the design.
I'm often asked about my favorite colors. I'd mention a touch of gold color with any combinations. I also like red and bronze, green and purple of any shades, blue, black, gray and white. Though I have my favorite palettes, I like experimenting with colors, sometimes trying quite unusual combinations.
I work in my studio in the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria, VA. There is not much workspace there, and the studios are open to public, it means I have to be organized. Of course, I need to keep large closets with my stuff at home "in good shape", too, otherwise I won't find anything going to the studio.
Since 2007 I've participated in many beading contests and exhibitions. I'm not as ambiguous as it might be seemed; I do that just for fun! Probably, I'm lucky, because almost all the time I made at least finals. I've won a few First Places, Honorable Mentions, Judge's Favorite Awards, and every time it was a great inspiration for me.
I'm happily married for almost 34 years, my husband George helps me with my website, blogs, and any public relations. My youngest daughter Irina is my strongest juror, I've ever met! The oldest daughter Ivanna graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and is highly educated in designs. All of them support me in all my experiments, but they are also my first subtle critics. My adorable granddaughter Paulina is growing up very fast, I hope to teach her to bead, and we'll work together!
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