Main Bead Embroidery Kit Colors of Africa

“Colors of Africa” is a portrait of a woman in a turquoise turban surrounded by waves of fabric and pattern. The piece is decorative, full of jewellery and shifting colour.

What the picture shows

The face is shown in three-quarter view, the gaze turned aside, the eyelids darkened. A turquoise-blue wrap covers the head and large round hoop earrings hang at the ears. The main ornament is a layered necklace of red, blue, white and gold strands, gathered in the centre by a large pearl sphere. Wavy drapery circles the figure: blue and turquoise curls, russet spirals, openwork white nets and patches of leopard print. Beadwork covers the necklace, the earrings, the turban, the nets and the swirls, while the skin of the face stays as print on the canvas — that contrast between matte and glitter is what makes the portrait feel alive. The strands of the necklace lie over one another in tight rows, each worked in its own colour, from brick red through blue to gold. The shoulders and chest are almost entirely hidden under jewellery and fabric.

What is in the kit

• Artist canvas with the full-colour pattern printed on it — no chart to follow on a screen
• Czech Preciosa beads, 22 colours
• Beading needles
• Instructions and finishing guide

Specifications

• Finished size: 300×400 mm (11.8×15.7 in)
• Beads: approx. 10,924
• Bead colours: 22
• Difficulty: average
• Base: artist canvas

The vertical piece suits a living room or a hallway in an ethnic or contemporary interior. Gallery finishing is possible — the canvas stretches over a bar.