| Pleasing Picassos A Painterly Finish On Miyuki Beads by Damaris Ramenaden |
Miyuki Beads come in a vast range of colours and they also have a huge variety of different finishes too! These are different coatings and effects that are applied to create eye-catching and unique glass beads. One of their most popular finishes is the 'Picasso' finish. Picasso style beads have a speckled or flecked finish on them, with the speckles ranging from light yellow to green to dark brown.
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| Miyuki Seed col. 4513 | Miyuki Delica col. 2265 | Miyuki Seed col. 4516 |
The Picasso finish is a type of surface treatment used on glass or crystal beads to create this mottled or speckled appearance. It typically involves adding a thin layer of metallic or oxide coating to the surface of the bead, which creates a textured or "painterly" effect.
Each bead has unique, abstract patterns and tones, giving them a rustic, almost earthy appearance. Many people buy them because they are reminiscent of the look of naturally occurring gemstones beads, and as such work wonderfully well with semi-precious stones. The marbleised effect that the finish gives allows the colour of the bead to blend and harmonise with lots of different project colour palettes.
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When you work with Miyuki Picasso finish beads, it's worth bearing in mind that the bigger the surface area of the bead, the more effective the finish. If you want your piece to show off the bead finish, then Miyuki Tilas, Long Magatamas or 3mm and 4mm Cubes will do this for you. Try using them in Cellini Spiral stitches, bead loom work and embellishing cabochons to really highlight their wonderful mottled patterns.
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| Miyuki Tila col.4511 | Miyuki Long Magatama col. 4512 | Miyuki Half Tila col. 4514 |
| Miyuki Delicas with the Picasso finish can also have a striking effect when stitched together, as shown by these one-drop and two-drop peyote stitch earrings. |
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| The Miyuki Delica and Seed Beads with the Picasso finish work extremely well for bezelling and creating focals, as their colours add texture, depth and drama to your designs. |
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The colour variations can create complex looking, rich bases from which to add embellishments, tone with metal elements or highlight natural occlusions and features in cabochons and stones.
Try introducing Miyuki Picasso beads to your work today and see how gorgeous they can be!
Our Miyuki Delica Picasso beads can be found under colour codes 2261 - 2267.
Our Miyuki Seed Bead and Tila, Half-Tila and Quarter Tila beads can be found under colour codes 4501 - 4521.