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Artist Profile: Margie Deeb


That Silver Ribbon of Road
Three independent panels of color represent the past, present, and
future, as well as the subconscious, unconscious, and conscious mind.
That silver ribbon of road connects them all. Loomwork by Margie Deeb
and Frieda Bates.
11/o glass beads, acrylic base. Photo by Haigwood Studios, Roswell,
Georgia

Artist: Margie Deeb
Location: Roswell, Georgia

Website & Blog:
Margie Deeb
Margie Deeb’s Color for Bead Artists

Colors of the Lilac-Breasted Roller
A Lilac-Breasted Roller, one of the most beautiful birds in existence,
inspired Margie Deeb’s panoply of hues on a cobalt background. The
color challenge this bird presented was one of abundance: so many
colors, and all so gorgeous. With a calligraphic flourish of lilac,
Margie swirls your attention from the main stone up toward the center,
the heart of the wearer, crowned in turquoise. The unique shape
suggests arms raised in praise of color and beauty. Chrysocolla, t
urquoise, amethyst, chalcedony, vintage pressed glass, 24kt and glass
beads. Photo by Margie Deeb.

How do you describe your beadwork, Margie?
Sensuous beaded art exploring dimensions of color through form and movement.

What is your creative process like?
I am very methodical, engagin in a tremendous amount of planning ahead of time so that when I get to the manifesting stage, I feel very free to enjoy the process. I make endless sketches and drawings and rework color combinations over and over until I come up with what feels balanced and whole. I do this with my paintings, too. I have many sketches of everything I do long before I produce the final piece.


Study in Fuschia & Orange
Margie Deeb created this necklace in which each color has its own
form, while all converge as one in a surging swirl of color. Bead
embroidery. Glass beads and sensuede. Photo by Margie Deeb.

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I’ve always been an artist, and have painted and drawn my whole life.

Being a graphic designer helped me hone my process and become more disciplined and methodical in my approach. Making a living as an Art Director where I constantly have to get into a client’s mind and heart, and produce work that fits a client’s objectives has made me not take myself or art so seriously, and as a result, become very flexible.

Being a musician has helped me with rythym, pattern and movement.

Writing has taught me to use a different part of my brain, the side not so natural to use, and helped me think better.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
Colored markers, colored pencils and colored pens!


Dance of The Undines
The element of water is personified in Undines, those ineffable,
invisible beings of movement. “Dance of the Undines” is study of the
movement of color within the movement of water. Loomwork by Margie
Deeb and Frieda Bates. 11/o glass beads, acrylic base. Photo by
Haigwood Studios, Roswell, Georgia

What inspires you to create?
Beauty and the desire for more beauty! Meditations and dreams (on the intangible level).

On the physical level, certain color combinations will light a fire in me, or stir my imagination. And I love looking at people’s faces. I find faces one of the most fascinating things in the world, and one of the most beautiful. I love painting faces, not portraits, but faces.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
My desire to rise to a challenge. I may get down for awhile and consider giving up – but that never lasts. I love a challenge.


The Heart of Her
11/o glass beads. Photo by Haigwood Studios, Roswell, Georgia

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?

Do your work. Your work is your art. Every day. Just do it. It sounds so simple and trite, but it is the greatest thing I know – just do it everyday, of course always striving to learn more. I’ve wasted years at a time mucking around looking for answers to creativity, when I find all my answers IN THE PROCESS of my art.

The second thing is: play and experiment. When I stop playing and experimenting and stop loving the process, then I am in big trouble. My art becomes stagnant and dead. So I make sure I balance my work by coming to the table (at appropriate times) in a spirit of play and experimentation.

I always need to remind myself of these two things. They are so simple we tend to overlook them, or think we’ve outgrown them. I promise you I will need to return to this interview for my own advice within four months.


The Beader’s Color Palette: 20 Creative Projects and 220 Inspired
Combinations for Beaded and Gemstone Jewelry opens the door to worlds
of color inspiration. Gather from history, culture, and our planet to
create stunning color schemes for beaded creations. Gorgeous beaded
jewelry illustrating 220 specific palettes for glass and gemstone
beads make The Beader’s Color Palette a coffee table book of
inspiration for color lovers working in every medium. Includes
detailed instructions for stringing, finishing, looming, and off-loom
stitches. (Ready for publication on June 10! Pre-orders can be placed now)

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
Teaching (am now teaching online classes on CraftEdu as well as travelling all over the country), my graphic design work, my community of beloved friends, and my family (musician husband and 2 dogs).


What’s your favorite book?
I love the book Art & Fear by Bayles & Orland. When I’m lodged in fear, a few paragraphs of that motivate me like a wildfire.


Margie’s other books: Beading Her Image, The Beader’s Guide to Color, and Out on a Loom

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