About the Work

I create contemporary jewelry and small sculpture in silver, gold and bronze. A portion of my work combines elements of nature, such as twigs, birds, small insects and leaves. My work is hand fabricated in silver and gold, and accented with colorful gemstones.

I use many different methods to produce my jewelry. I use both fabrication (working directly with sheet metal and wire) and the lost wax casting method. I produce both one-of-a-kind pieces and production work. The lost wax casting method allows me to reproduce complex and detailed pieces with ease. The cast pieces are then incorporated into more complex fabricated designs. I also make all my own findings (the little parts that connect the elements in earrings, bracelets and necklaces). 

I begin most designs with a sketch, attempting to translate an idea in my head to a small jewelry object. Once the idea is transferred to paper, I begin building it in metal, cutting, embossing, drilling, soldering and fusing various metals together. Other times a colorful gemstone may inspire a design. I then work around this colorful stone adding metal work and other accent gemstones. 

I am continuously challenged to transform the idea in my mind to a three-dimensional object that can be worn. My goal is to create an object of beauty and interest that complements the body and is comfortable to wear.

Caring for your jewelry

Your jewelry should be stored in plastic bags, such as the ones it came in.  Air and moisture are the enemies of silver as they will cause it to tarnish, so before storing your jewelry, be sure it is clean and dry.  The plastic bags will also keep the jewelry from becoming scratched and dented.

At home, a homemade solution of dish soap, a little ammonia and warm water will clean off the surface dirt and grime.  Sensitive stones such as turquoise, opal and pearls should be cleaned around, not soaked.  I often use a soft toothbrush in crevices and a Q-tip around stones.  Rinse and thoroughly dry your jewelry before storing it back in the plastic baggies.

Do not use harsh cleaners such as Tarnex on your jewelry.  Tarnex will strip the dark silver finish and ruin some gemstones.  

Ultrasonic cleaners should be used with great care.  Not only are their cleaning solutions sometimes harsh, the ultrasonic motion can ruin soft stones such as opals, lapis, pearls, and turquoise to name a few.

If your jewelry becomes a bit dull, a product that works well for a quick polish is a Sunshine Cloth.

Credits

Professional Photography By
Hap Sakwa, Sebastopol, CA (retired)
Bruce Shippee, Santa Rosa, CA.  bruceshippee.com

Artist photo: Bob Cornelius

All other photographs by artist.