Tag Archives: uv resin art

Imbolg Crown, finished!

Imbolg Crown 2022 by Suzanne ForbesSometimes, to make the things I’m gonna make, I have to make them to figure out how I’m gonna make them.

This was definitely one of those situations! In the freezing January of 2021 I had a vision of a green glittering crown, made of beads and Angelina Fantasy Film and UV resin. I imagined that it would sit lightly on the head like wings, or crawling ivy.

On Imbolc/Imolg 2021 I posted the first stage.

Imbolg Crown of UV resin and Angelina Fantasy Film 2022 by Suzanne Forbes processInitially there were two wing-like structures, one of beads and crystals and floral wire and one of lighter wire and Angelina Fantasy Film.

Above you can see the two sections held together in front of February snow, 2021; the fused and completed crown, with late January snow, 2022, and the finished crown on Imbolg 2022, when sunlight burst onto our balcony for the first time in months.

Imbolg Crown 2022 by Suzanne Forbes detailDuring the summer of 2021, I spent many hours on the balcony in the sun, applying tinted UV resin and crystals to each section.

Once each section was completely decorated and strengthened with resin, I fused the sections together with beaded wire and UV resin.

Imbolg Crown 2022 by Suzanne Forbes assemblyUnlike all my other headdress projects, I wanted this crown to be light, and also stable!

Somehow I decided that a lightweight headband could secure it while the actual structure rested on the wearer’s hair. So I ordered a thin green headband and attached it to the two wing-like structures of floral wire, using ribbon and resin-covered wire loops so it would be mobile.

Imbolg Crown 2022 by Suzanne Forbes sideI added some bright green organza ribbon that had been awaiting its destiny for at least two decades.

The organza ribbons can be braided into hair to secure the crown, or used with bobby pins to hold it.Imbolg Crown 2022 by Suzanne Forbes worn by the artist

The Spring WILL come.

If you are interested in Imbolg and Brigid, and other Irish and Celtic spiritual traditions, check out Berlin-based Irishwoman Dee Mulroney!

She is the power behind Growler and an incredible visual artist and storyteller and ritual-maker. The work she does is a vital source of strength and cultural connection for me. She will be making fine art prints of her beautiful drawings available soon!

A jeweled headpiece for Berlin artist Ixa Psyborg!

Headpiece for Ixa Psyborg by Suzanne Forbes August 2021There is of course a great tradition of figurative artists making accessories for favorite performers.

Alphonse Mucha designed jewelry for Sarah Bernhardt! So when someone inspires me with their style like Ixa Psyborg does, I find it quite reasonable to create something completely unique for them. And the timing worked out great with this piece!

Ixa has so much new music & art right now!

Check out their new music video for “Codex” out on Youtube, Codex streaming on soundcloud, and a new LP, “Androidgyne”, dropping on August 31.

Plus gigs all over town! Ixa is one of the performers at an incredible show this Sept. 5 at queer clubhouse Monster Ronsons – “Psychedelicious” features the original music of Berlin drag performers!

I outdid myself with this headpiece I must say!

Like the one I made for GodXXX Noirphiles, It is based on a transparent blue acrylic mask. The “horns” are made of Angelina Fantasy Film, custom cast UV resin crystals and butterflies, mermaid pearls, Swarovski crystals, jelly crystals, microbeads, glass beads and UV drips and drops, which are cured on the fly in the sun.

It is fairly light, and robustly constructed, so it can be worn on stage, flung around, packed in a costume suitcase, etc.

I drilled holes through the mask at the earpieces and wired the “horns” of Angelina Film on to make it structurally sound.

It takes a long time to make one of these!

Curing the UV resin is a very slow process, and getting the two sides balanced compositionally is really hard!

After each dendritic cluster of drips is formed, I add pearls, crystals, and microbeads, secured with glue.

Then I go back and secure everything with resin. Then more drips, curled colored craft wire, more microbeads (these have to be attached with glue because the surface tension of the resin is too high to hold their light weight) and more pearls.

It’s very satisfying and meditative!

As I have said before, I also see these pieces as psychonaut companions, a safe place to put your consciousness if a situation or psychedelic experience is challenging. You can drift off into their infinite detail quite peacefully!

Ixa Psyborg Berlin by Suzanne Forbes September 26 2020Here is the drawing I made of Ixa performing at twilight last year, with the colors that inspired the headpiece.

Ixa is on Insta, Youtube as Ixa Music, bandcamp, and Soundcloud. Check out this Berlin talent!!