Carter Watkins
Roadrunner VS. Scorpion, 2020, seed beads beeswax on acoustic guitar, 16 x 40 x 4”
Describe your artistic style in three words.
dedicated to interesting surfaces
What's inspiring you right now?
I have recently discovered a couple bead artists that do incredible work Qudamawi from New Orleans and Ralph Ziman from South Africa. We have different styles and processes but the scale that they work on is really interesting.
What do you do when you're feeling uninspired?
It does not happen often but- I sketch, or switch up the medium. Recently I've been using my computer to mock-up ideas. I have a Flickr account and I have been "curating" a favorites collection for about 9 years. I've saved over ten thousand random images of things, art, animals, places, plants, and design. If all else fails I take the dog for a walk.
Tell us something unique about your process.
All my geometric beadwork designs are improvised as I go. I find a nice color palette and start beading out from the center. If it looks weird, I'll pull the beads up, re-wax and try again.I use beeswax to stick the beads to the surface of my pieces. A lot of people ask what kind of glue I use - none. Beeswax is an incredible material that has been used to make art for thousands of years.
What advice do you have for other artists?
Get to work, get your hands dirty!
Anything else you’d like to share?
I love when people donate/suggest objects I should bead. The possibilities are endless, if you have an interesting object, string instrument, or car that you don't use, reach out. I could take it off your hands and turn it into a piece of art.
I have a large collection of beaded skulls and guitars at the Austin Creative Art Center on 6th and West Lynn. They are closed due to the covid-19 outbreak. so... you should check out my website hcwatkinsart.com if you want to see more, for now.
Roadrunner VS. Scorpion, 2020, seed beads beeswax on acoustic guitar, 16 x 40 x 4”
Covid 19 Deer, 2020, seed beads beeswax on deer skull, 15 x 13 x 16”
Redtail VS. Rattler, 2020, seed beads beeswax on acoustic guitar, 15 x 36 x 4”
Redtail VS. Rattler, 2020, seed beads beeswax on acoustic guitar, 15 x 36 x 4”
Pheasant VS. Fox, 2019, seed beads beeswax on acoustic guitar, 13 x 38 x 3”
Shakey Graves Red Rocks Guitar, 2019, seed beads beeswax on acoustic guitar, 16 x 40 x 4”
Shakey Graves Red Rocks Concert Poster, 2019, Show poster featuring image of beaded guitar photographed over beaded show info, 18 x 24”
Guleke Deer, 2019, seed beads beeswax on deer skull, 15 x 15 x 16”
Alpine Longhorn, 2019, seed beads beeswax on Texas longhorn skull, 55 x 20 x 12”
Carter Watkins is a self taught creative artist and art director from Austin Texas. He's been beading skulls and guitars since 2014. His designs range from freeform geometric patterns to beaded florals and landscapes. Each bead is placed one at a time.