HR Artist Creates Stunningly Detailed Hand-Beaded "Starry Night"

A close up of “Starry Beaded Night” by Judy Larsen, of Hood River. The ‘bead painting’ is valued at $3,300.

Hood River artist Judy Larsen, has created an amazing hand beaded tribute to Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting which is now on display at The Dalles Art Center. 

The incredible hand beaded 8x10 ‘painting’ took hundreds of hours to complete. 

Just one square inch of beadwork took 3-4 hours to complete. 

“The larger areas like the tree and the sky went a bit faster because I could use the two needle technique, but the more detailed areas like the village took the longest because the houses and windows were just so small, and I wanted to get the details right,” said Larsen.

“I’m not a patient person, but this project really taught me how to be,” said Larsen. “I estimate the beadwork took 200-225 hours to complete. I started January 1st and I finished in March.” 

Beading Van Gogh’s Starry Night

“I usually do a personal project in January and February, because not much seems to sell during that time and this year,” said Larsen. 

And this year ‘Starry Beaded Night’ was it.

Why Van Gogh?

“I knew I wanted to do Van Gogh because he used so many different colors, unlike other impressionists that use a lot of blue or peach. And the paint strokes that Van Gogh used just looked like bead strings to me,” said Larsen.

“It was between Irises and Starry Night and I thought I might get bored with Irises, which uses a lot of the same colors,” said Larsen. 

Getting the details right was an important part of Larson’s process. 

Before she could even begin with the beading process she had to draw the painting by hand on interfacing fabric. The interfacing acted as her base for her beadwork which she would embroider to the fabric.

“I pulled up a picture of Starry Night on my phone. I printed out a picture. Got out a ruler and I started drawing. Luckily I’m a pretty good artist that way,” said Larsen. 

A detailed look at Larsen’s beadwork. Notice how each bead string not only matches Van Gogh’s colors but also mimics the weight and flow of his brush strokes.

Matching the bead colors to the painting was tough going. 

“It was a challenge to match the colors,” said Larsen “It was a challenge to even get all the beads I needed, all of our local bead stores have closed down, and even my online resources had stopped selling beads, even before COVID,” said Larsen, “I spent a lot of money on beads that weren’t quite right and I ended up not using.” 

Larsen used different sizes of beads to create texture. Using some of the smallest seed beads available to slightly larger ones. 

But in the end it was all worth it. 

“I didn’t want people to go, ‘oh that looks like starry night’. I wanted them to go ‘Oh! That is Starry Night!” said Larsen.

Now Showing

Judy’s beadwork was originally supposed to be entered into “The Best of the Gorge” art show at Columbia Center for the Arts. But she decided to enter it into The Dalles Art Center’s ‘Now What!?!’ exhibit instead because there were no fees associated with entering and displaying her work.

‘Now What!?!’ will be on display until the first week of August.

“I got an email from Scott (Scott Stephenson is the executive director at The Dalles Art Center) about the Now What!?! Show, that was looking to showcase art that shows what local artists have learned and how they’ve grown through the pandemic and I just thought...Well this is perfect,” said Larsen. 

Some Advice for Other Artists

Larsen had some advice for other artists who are still looking for their creative flame post pandemic- sometimes an artistic funk can be overcome by just trying out a different medium and finding what brings you joy. 

“I did stained glass for a long time. Then 6-7 years ago I started doing wire wrapping and then that led to beading. Sometimes you just have to find the right thing.” 

Starry Beaded Night by Judy Larsen, Framing by Bryce Jenkinson

See this amazing beaded painting in person!

You can go see Judy Larsen’s Starry Night, and other amazing artworks in the Now What!?! exhibit which runs until the first week of August at The Dalles Art Center. 

To see more of Judy Larsen’s artwork check out her website or visit The Frame Gallery in Hood River.