metal masters

Today the Handmade Division is talking about the artists we would most like to study with.

I love mid-century modernist jewelry and have collected it for years. In fact I sell it on my web site modbaubles.com (which desperately needs updating). There were many studio jeweler's working from the 50s-70s that I would love a chance to work with. Here are but a few, some of the images are from my personal collection and some are pieces I have sold.

Sigi Pineda

Ronald Hayes Pearson

Phyllis Jacobs

Merle Boyer

Frank Patania, Sr.

Ed Weiner

Henry Steig

Los Castillo

There are so many other talented artists I could list, including some great Scandinavian studio jewelers. To read more on modernist silver visit Modern Silver Magazine. Please visit these team members to read about who they would like to study with:

Andes Cruz
Nancy Dale
Tosca Teran
Beth Cyr
Lisa Hopkins Design
Sand Fibers
Bill Martin
Emily Watson
Rickson Jewellery
WATTO Distinctive Metal Wear
Pink Crow Studio

scythian gold

Today the Handmade Division is blogging on things that inspire us to create. I find inspiration in many ways, including taking a historical look at metalwork. I've been reading a catalog from an exhibition of Scythian gold from 3000-100 BC held at the Met in 1975. Many of the objects are quite famous but all are new to me.

This one is probably the most well-known, a golden pectoral from the royal grave at Tolstaja Mogila kurgan, Ukraine, 400 BC. The catalog doesn't give much detail on how it was made, it does mention that the figural elements were cast and that's it probably Greek workmanship.

The weight of the piece is 1150 grams, or 36.9 troy oz, or 2.5 lb. Assuming it's 24k that's $47,232 worth of gold at yesterday's spot price. You can read more about the pectoral here.

I am in awe of the detail and incredibly skilled craftsmanship of this object that is so very old. I've been researching metalwork in the Iron Age and discovered that blowpipes were used for soldering as early as 2500 BC.


The Hermitage has this wonderful hair comb, also 4th century BC, read more here. It certainly inspires me!


Please visit these team members to read about their inspirations:

Andes Cruz
Lisa Hopkins Design
Jewelry by Natsuko
Beth Cyr
ArtJewel Designs
Abhaya Fibers
Bella-Bijou Jewellery
Alice Istanbul
Susan Moloney
Lunasa Designs Jewelry
nanotopia
Nancy Dale
Delias Thompson

new earrings on etsy

I just listed these sterling silver earrings in my etsy shop, they are a new design for my Elements Series.

holloware

Today the Handmade Division is blogging on what we would you like to create that we don't currently have the skills or technology to make. I'm interested in holloware, raising holloware to be precise.

Pitcher, Castor-Cooper, pewter

I find the idea of creating a 3-dimensional object from a flat piece of metal downright romantic. It's an ancient technique requiring little more equipment than a stake, hammer, and torch. Pictured above is a vintage pewter pitcher from my personal collection. I plan to take a pewter raising class this fall at the National Ornamental Metal Museum - so I'm on my way!

Bud Vase, Danielle Miller, sterling silver

Danielle Miller made this gorgeous bud vase, I love the modern design and her craftsmanship is always impeccable. You can see the entire process in her tutorial. It's a very time-consuming technique that requires A LOT of pounding, just the bottom half of the vase took Danielle an entire day.

Poppy Bloom Superbowl, Maureen Brusa Zappellini, Pewter, Automotive Paint

Maureen Brusa Zappellini created her Poppy Bloom Superbowl on Superbowl Sunday. Maureen invited others to join her in The Superbowl Challenge 2010, you can see all of participants' bowls here. I love the organic and whimsical nature of Maureen's work, and the way she combines color with metal.

Pewter is much softer than silver (and not made with lead anymore), and therefore a bit less effort and time are required to form it. It is also less expensive than silver. These are three big selling points for my patience level and budget.

As I mentioned, raising is an ancient technique and the equipment used can be as low or high end as you like. In fact, Maureen forged her bowl with no specialized forming equipment whatsoever - she did most of the forming on a stump! You can watch her working in this very fun video.

Stakes and hammers are expensive - so I may be working on my own stump this fall. Nevertheless, I'm very excited to try it.

Please visit the other team members and read about their interests:

Andes Cruz
NEDbeads
Lisa Hopkins Design
Jewelry by Natsuko:
Beth Cyr
ArtJewel Designs
Abhaya Fibers
Purified Art
Nova of Sweden
Bella-Bijou Jewellery
Pink Crow Studio
Sand Fibers
Alice Istanbul
Moxie & Oliver
Tosca Teran
Delias Thompson

am I a metal artist?

Untitled, 2006. Wood, paint, wire, more than 2000 paper clips.

Today the Handmade Division is blogging on the topic, "Do you consider yourself to be only a (metal) artist?". An interesting question and one I've been thinking about lately as I become more involved with various metalsmithing communities online.

I do not think of myself primarily as a metal artist or metalsmith, I'm a conceptual artist who happens to be working with metal. My MFA is in Fiber Art and I worked with textiles for 15 years before moving to mixed media, and eventually metal three years ago. Perhaps I will become interested in painting or ceramics one day, I have no idea. I can't imagine limiting myself to one medium for the rest of my life.

Front View, 2000. Canvas, thread, glass beads.

I do not consider any of my wearable, everyday jewelry pieces to be art objects. I think of them as design exercises, as well as a means for me to support myself while improving my craftsmanship and metalsmithing skills. That body of work appeals to my interest in the process over the product and is firmly based in craft and craftsmanship.

Necklace, 2010. Sterling silver, copper, brass.

My conceptual work is my art, these objects are primarily about the expression of ideas; craftsmanship, while still very important, is always secondary to this expression.

Don't!, 2010. Nickel silver, sterling, copper, aluminum door bolt.

I really like working this way, moving back and forth between design and art. For years after grad school I put a lot of pressure on myself to make nothing but conceptual work, which is hard for me because my art tends toward sociopolitical commentary, and that's difficult to conjure up - it has to come from my gut, organically. Making wearable, design-based pieces takes away the pressure to produce and allows me to remain happily creative without added stress. I sell enough of my everyday jewelry that I don't have to worry about making money with my art, so those objects can remain authentically mine and aren't subject to the vagaries and influences of the market. It's a nice arrangement.

Please visit the other members of the Handmade Division to read their views:

Andes Cruz
Jewelry by Natsuko
Lisa Hopkins Design
Abhaya Fibers
ArtJewel Designs
Susan Moloney
Bill Martin
Tamra Gentry
Maureen BZ (Cosmo’s Moon)