Molding silver

Awesome video of a Spanish metalsmith that does chasing and repousse  work, I love his studio, it's so clean and tidy with all the different stations of work. 

And at the end, when you see all the silver....it's alot.  Definitely worth the twenty minute viewing.

Thanks for sharing this on your blog Arthur Hash!

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I'm chasing

...yes, me being a nerd...

Chasing a heart on fire for a new brooch!

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Lady of Life and Death

I'm so pleased to post photos of a new brooch I completed for an upcoming exhibition at Equinox Gallery, where my good friend and ECU metals MFA alumni, Laura Wood works at.

Lady of Life and Death brooch, 2011

Chased and repoussed coppper, powder coated copper,

spray paint, plexiglass, hand drawing of Catrina.

(Images not to be reproduced without consent of artist).

Lady of Life and Death brooch, 2011 - sideview.

Up close shot

Back of brooch, the roughness of the back

is in correspondence with death and decay of

what La Catrina represents.

Lady of Life and Death brooch was inspired by my trip to Mexico and the devotion and amusement of Mexicans for the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe and La Catrina (a symbol of death during the celebration of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead).

Traveling through Mexico there is a church on almost every corner and the Virgin Mary charm or prayer hanging from almost every cab dashboard. When I researched references for my brooch I came upon a quote by Octavio Paz (Mexican thinker, writer and Nobel prize recipient) that had a lasting impression on me "When Mexicans no longer believe in anything, they will hold fast to their belief in two things: the National Lottery and the Virgin of Guadalupe. In this I think they will do well. For both have been known to work, even for those of us who believe in nothing."

I'll be shipping my brooch off soon - here is a brief description of the exhibition and idea behind it:

“The inspiration for La Noche del Broche came from an idea of having one night to commemorate the brooch and its art form in a festive atmosphere where Spanish Music and Dancers would collaborate to create an atmosphere of Celebration!!! Models would be colorful and adorned with brooches celebrating the human spirit. This exhibition is an opportunity for artists to honor and celebrate the art form of the brooch. For this vision to be appropriately achieved, we would need a large collective of brooches each one expressing the multiplicity and individuality of the creative essence. Equinox Gallery serves as a meeting place to showcase Jewelry and metalwork in San Antonio. Our Mission is to exhibit and educate the community by providing a Platform for the diversity in the field of Metalsmithing.” -Alejandro Sifuentes

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how I became a metalsmith and jeweler

Me at my dining room table chasing a copper lid.

Often when I catch up with old friends or make new ones I get that question, how did you get into working with metal and making jewelry? I find that most people are intrigued because it's not the common profession, to become a metalsmith.

At first, it can be a scary and daunting journey - to take that first step of moving forward and even knowing where to go but it is so gratifying!

Back in 2001, I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelors Degree of Liberal Arts and Science in Anthropology. My last semester at UF, I took a wire wrapping class in jewelry making at the student union. From the first class on, I was in the studio every night. It was like returning to my roots.

So there I was, graduating with a degree in which I had no idea what I was going to do and then rediscovering a lost passion; jewelry and being creative. And I asked myself, how do I get into the field of making jewelry?

I really didn't have much of a choice, upon graduating, I still had to make money! Long story short, I worked for about 8 years in the non-profit field, specifically environmental and human rights. In my spare time I took jewelry classes on the side and towards the last 3 years I began to work part time for professional jewelry artists and in a jewelry/silverware repair shop. Somehow, I made the time to study with other artists: on week nights I took enameling and raising and forming classes, then on the weekends I worked at the shop.

Some days it was tiring (juggling a full time job and part time job) but also very motivating and it pushed me to save money and build up my portfolio. Not only did I get great professional experience and knowledge but also I met very talented artists and craftspeople. Finally, I made the decision to go back to school and get the technical experience I still lacked.

It's the best decision I've ever made, thus far, in my life.

My best recommendation for anyone that wants to get into the arts field is this: find people like you that are interested in the craft, take classes, read about it, and do your research.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my journey and feel free to share your own.

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progress report

I have been so busy lately; unexpected visits from old friends, summer plans and meeting amazing new people popped up all in the past two weeks. But that is life and I'm taking it as it comes.

Along with all of that excitement I've got three projects due next week and I'm getting ready to pull my hair out with all of the small details I have to keep track of.

Annnnnnyways, here is a photo of my lid and vessel which will soon by attached with my first completed hinge. I'm nervous and anxious to get it over with. It's like surgery or something!

Keep me in your prayers to the metalsmith gods!

And thank you for reading.
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Visiting artist: Jesse Bert

Jesse Bert and his studio

Our Lady, brooch

Hair Comb

Hablando

This weekend the ECU metals guild hosted alumni Jesse Bert. Jesse was formally invited to be a visiting artist by Bob Ebendorf, Belk Distinguished Professor at ECU.

Jesse graduated from the ECU masters program in 2006 and since then has been living and working as a professional jewerly artist and instructor in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

You can see the Mexican influence in his work, such as in the Our Lady brooch above. Jesse uses found objects, like ivory piano keys, wood, paper, amber, steel and all other sorts of fascinating materials. Jesse's beautiful and detailed chasing and rivets (along with the found objects) really make his work distinctive and unique.

I'm really drawn to Jesse's work because he incorporates his found objects in such an unusual manner. For the Hablando pendant, Jesse uses the latice piecercing already in the ivory as a beautiful backdrop for the swirl pattern of the wood in the shape of a talking symbol he drew from Aztec ideograms. Or his Sole pendant, Jesse used a piece of dryed up rubber sole that mimics some of the stamping/chasing he does on the center silver piece.

Jesse works out of his home studio but also travels across Mexico and the U.S. teaching mini-workshops and one on one sessions. It was wonderful to have him visit and learn of his journey as a metalsmith and how he is able to make an income; for many of us students he is an example of how we can make that same journey and be successful.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed viewing Jesse's work.

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David Huang bowls

Luminous Relic 724

Sensual Radiance 866

Whorled Flow 877-2

Whorled Flow 877-4

I was recently browsing new work on Crafthaus and spied a new bowl from David Huang. His chasing and repoussee work is amazing. He creates entrancing swirls on his bowls and then applies gold leaf on the inside as well as gorgeous patinas, like the blue/green one above.

As I've worked on my copper vessel, I'm becoming aware of how the metal moves and behaves according to the type of hammer I use and how I want to manipulate it. Looking at David's work, I'm challenged to stick with this new technique and not be tempted to give up when I'm frustrated.

Hope you enjoy his work as much as I do - and thank you for reading!
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pitchin' it

Me this morning filling my spiculum with pitch, for oh, the 4th or 5th time. I'm almost done, next up planishing out the kinks and bumps on the inside of the curve.

I got in early again this morning to get working. I'm determined to have all three of my projects done in one week.

Christmas break will be so sweet when all of this is done. Pin It

bench shot

This past weekend I worked on a test piece for my coral brooch in my mixed media class. The anvil and leather bag I bought years ago and they have really shown their purpose lately. Pin It