Impressions of the Sea
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Jewelry-Making Contest 2014 featuring Crystal
Finalist |
|
Meet the Designer-Artist
Where do you live?
Los Angeles, California
What inspires you as a designer-artist?
Rolling waves, animal patterns (peacocks for example), and abstract sculptures.
I'm drawn to nature because I enjoy movement and it influences my soul. Abstract sculptures speak to me because they are edgy and out of the box. I also love their three dimensional forms because they present a lack of balance and perfection, giving room for non-traditional forms.
What medium do you work with mostly?
I mostly work with natural stones, crystals, dichroic glass, and copper, brass, or sterling silver wire. When I wire wrap and incorporate all of these materials, I feel a growing excitement as creative possibilities take shape and flow through my hands.
Why did you become enchanted with this style of jewelry-making?
With wire, I am able to create a literal or figurative jewelry piece. Being able to shape the wire to a desired form that I'm envisioning, and creating a dimensional space that's layered and full of depth intrigues me. I have always loved using my hands and wire allows me to feel and experience various textures.
What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Impressions of the Sea
What inspired this design?
Since childhood, I've been fascinated with the sea and its inhabitants. My mom and I would visit the Aquarium of the Pacific many times a year. I would stare at all of the wondrous wildlife and their colorful surroundings. So I decided to create a piece representing the sea. I used blue and green crystals to resemble the ocean's color. To imitate the waves, I curved the wire and layered the wire for depth. Because the white coral felt weightless in my hands, I used it to portray the lightness of the reefs swaying in the ocean.
How did it come together?
I initially sketched a rough draft of the piece. There were some minor additions and changes as the work progressed, but overall I stayed true to the original design. |