Athena's Owl

I recently held a first quality ancient greek coin with the head of Athena on one side and an owl on the other, similar to the image above. The owl's stance is very distinctive and I fell in love with it, but as a glass sculpture/bead it presented some challenges. I decided to approach it as an image on a surface rather than as a stand-alone shape. I also wanted to give it the feel of something old and a piece of a greater whole, like a shard from a vase.
The first attempt is on the left below, and you can see the gloss on the unetched glass. I chose a base glass called Kryptonite by CIM, it is a beautiful light jade green and looks even prettier etched. The owl has been formed from silvered ivory for it's wonderful organic detailed qualities. The bead on the right is etched and the figure of the owl is tighter. I like them both but prefer the direction where the second one is going. The hole in both runs horizontal through the top portion.
What do you think? Suggestions?

Uber Bots!!

Here are four robots in the newest style. They are made with Triton, a glass from Double Helix that pops out the wonderful lustre in a 'reduction' flame.
I'm so pleased that I am able to replicate the robotic style that was achieved in the first of this new line.

Just before I go to sleep I think about beads, as much as I love the process of creation, wouldn't it be great if the things visualized in your mind could be made real in an instant? Even if it was an image transfer so that you could remember the colours and pattern and design. I have a visual diary etc but often the memory from that twilight mind state evaporates in the real light. Also, lugging around 100 coloured pencils just so you can get the right colour is a little unwieldy.
One idea I had was to get a specialized tablet (laptop) that can deal with graphics programmes and is in a good portable size. They are a bit slow in coming out with it. I know they're out there but so far they're fairly primitive. Unless YOU know of one?