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My work is created using vintage postcards from the 1940’s,
resin and sterling silver. The images I choose are of our
favorite tourist destinations and scenes in America. Each
piece of jewelry is individually designed. Postcards are cut
and set in bezels that are made to fit each piece out of sterling
silver. Resin is poured as a finish giving it a glassy surface.
The process is labor intensive and complicated. Every piece
contains a section of real vintage postcard and is therefore one-of-a-kind.
My inspiration comes mainly from the postcard images, but also from
Victorian era jewelry created in Europe. Travelers in the
late 19th century could buy what was called souvenir jewelry in
places like Rome or Paris, created by designers such as Castellani
and Giulliano. I also get inspiration from ancient Greek classical
design. The same Greek style elements were incorporated into
Victorian era jewelry designs of the mid to late 19th Century.
Designers of the Victorian period were heavily influenced by Greek
designs and copied many of the ancient pieces. Their work
draws heavily from ancient Greek masterpieces, but includes a whimsical
quality or conversely, a dramatic sentimental appeal. I find
these twists to be the most intriguing and I have adopted them and
pushed them even further in my work.
I grew up in Houston, Texas and attended University of Texas at
Austin. I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art (metal
and ceramics) in 1992. I later attended Austin Community College
in 1993 where I learned welding. I went on tom make and sell
metal furniture with handmade tile work. In 1994, I attended
a somewhat life-changing workshop at Haystack Mountain School of
Craft taught by Tim McCreight, a leader in metalsmithing art.
The knowledge and inspiration I gained there led me to begin making
jewelry as I found I had a fondness for making smaller and more
intimate objects. From 1995 to 1999 I was an assistant to
Sunyong Chung at Ginko Studios in Austin where she creates handmade
colored porcelain dinnerware. I learned
a great deal from her about running a successful craft studio.
My current business is “Baby Jane”. I produce
from a 400 square foot studio behind my house where I make all my
jewelry as well as sculptural work. I also teach Art Metals
at Austin Community College and I have found this experience to
be very rewarding.
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