This piece was a commission. I was contacted by a jade enthusiast about making a bead strand out of different jades (nephrite/jadeite) from around the world. He asked for a cicada and two black beetles as the center pieces. I loved making and rediscovering all the different jades I have. I enjoyed working to his vision.
Some artists give the impression they only want to work their own ideas. I don’t see it like that, there is so much space for an inspiration overlap between a clients idea and my execution of it. Sometimes there is conflict if your visions are incompatible (they want you to make a piece in another carvers style or of a subject you have no interest in) but often you end up with a unique fusion.
This was my initial sketch, it gave us both an idea of how the jade insects could work. 
The first step in making beads, cutting blanks (flower Pounamu) -
Flower Pounamu beads -
Blanks and beads from 7 different sources. -
Designing the cicada centerpiece. It is made out of the same stone as the larger one (Cassiar, Canada) -
Finished beads, I think there were 17 different origins -
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Designing the black beetles (Australian black jade) -
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All done. -
