Ana Hagopian Jewelry

Paper and fiber jewelry created by
Ana Hagopian is a wondrous feast for the eyes.
Texture and color dominate her work.

It's very easy to recognize the commitment
and talent this artist brings to her work;
one can see the sensitivity and the
delicate skill it takes to create
these pieces.

Over the years, Ana has developed
an astonishing range of jewelry including
pieces that are geometric and architectural
 in style, and those that are more relaxed
and organic in style. Our favorites are her
hand-sculpted floral necklaces featuring
wildly-extravagant profusions of blossoms.
The subtle variations among her
floral pieces lead to a rich, layered
effect that's realistic and idealized
at the same time. The results of all her efforts
combine to create an impressive world
of textural magic.

We'd like to take the liberty of traveling back
and forth among her current and previous
 collections to look at some of our favorites.

These two-tone blooms

are sweet and lively.

We really like these

flowers made from felt.
We're being to feel like
springtime is arriving.

Here's another version of these
particular blooms that are
bright and tender.

Lush and densely-packed together

flowers seem to be filled with

life and vibrancy.

So lush and light.
Delicate and powerful at the same time.

We love the delicate tendrils

in this brightly-colored piece.

The sheer lusciousness of saturated color in this necklace

causes a physical reaction – it makes our hearts beat

faster every time we see it.

This jewelry truly is a celebration of nature

in all her glory.

Some pieces are ethereal
and diaphanous; some are
made with heavy, dense felt.
They're all filled with textural
elements and spectacular color
that just takes our breath away.

We're inspired by all this
beauty.

How are you?

Joyce Fritz Jewelry

Lighthearted. Whimsical. Playful.
Jewelry by Joyce Fritz provides an
enormous variety of fun and delight.
One doesn't expect to wear insects
and other creepy-crawly things as adornment
but each piece created by this artist is more
delightful than the last.
Smiles erupt whenever her jewelry appears.
Both the wearer and the viewer share
the enchantment.

Her designs are based on the world of bugs -
some are patterned after real insects and
are incredibly true to form,
while others are designed in her imagination
and are wonderfully creative.

Every piece of her jewelry is handmade in polymer
with detailed embellishments of glitter,
metallic leaf, wire, and glass beads.
Color and pattern are pivotal for this artist's process.
The intricate designs are not painted on; they are
an integral part of the polymer
and are created with an ancient technique,
also used in glass, called "millefiori,"
an Italian word meaning "one thousand flowers."


Let's look at some of our favorites.


We are inspired by the color effects in this brooch.

We love the elaborate, detailed mosaic effects

in this piece.

It's easy to forget that it's a bug.

This little fellow might become

our newest best friend.

The color choices on this piece
make quite an impact.

This little bug is just so adorable.

Playful. Pretty. Pleasing.
We really can't stop admiring them.
What do you think?


Enjoy!

Exhibition - Mary Hallam Pearse and Julia V. Turner

We recently became aware of a jewelry exhibition
currently showing at Taboo Studio.
"Fresh Air” is running from
February 11 – March 25, 2011.

"Fresh Air" is a contemporary jewelry art show
featuring new work by eight artists (several of whom
we have previously seen on this blog).
JEWELRY ARTISTS in this exhibition include:
Brooke Battles, Joanna Gollberg, Christy Klug,
Brigid O’Hanrahan, Mary Hallam Pearse,
Ingrid Psuty, Claire Sanford, and Julia V. Turner.


Let's take a look at some examples of the one-of-a-kind
jewelry included in this exhibition.


We find the brooches made by
Mary Hallam Pearse
to be rather exciting and different.
She works with found images and prints
them on thin sheets of aluminum
then incorporates materials such as
sterling silver and diamonds to
create pieces that are unique.
This brooch called "Diamond Tears"
is a real attention getter.

 

And this piece is called "Three Words."

Truly eye catching.

Another artist we admire in this

exhibition is Julia V. Turner.

She is showing a series of

fascinating pendants that feature distressed wood.

This piece is called "Blue Migration Pendant."

In this piece the unspecified type of wood

has been burned and stained.

It’s enclosed by steel and meticulously

decorated with Japanese glass beads.

 

Here's another intriguing example of this artist's work.

This pendant is called "Orange Scatter"- and

here again we see wood that has been

burned and stained, and decorated

with Japanese glass beads.

 

We'd love to see these pieces in person.

If you get the opportunity to attend this exhibit

let us know your thoughts and impressions

of the jewelry on view.

Enjoy the exhibit!

Monique Rancourt Jewelry

 A dear friend of ours recently introduced

us to work created by Monique Rancourt.

We were instantly smitten with all of

her current pieces.

Then we read her thoughts regarding
one's need for adornment and were
left pondering ideas we hadn't
considered before.

On her website, Monique shares

these ideas about jewelry and its

impact upon us.

My passion for creating body adornment has left me with the question: Why do we adorn our bodies? . . . But there is another question: Why do I feel as though I NEED to decorate my body? Isn’t my natural beauty good enough? . . . I think about the pressure I put on myself, as well as the expectations put on me by others, that cause a need to wear a second skin, to stand out, to be someone extraordinary. Although beautiful, body adornment can be a burden. While exploring the history of the corset and body adornment of the Pacific Islands and Africa, I have created a metaphorical body of work . . . exploring the idea of how jewelry gives confidence and is perceived as beautiful when in fact it can be a burden; constricting, heavy and uncomfortable . . . This series is intended to be perceived as extravagantly beautiful while the wearer is in fact constricted and “burdened by her beauty.”

There are many pieces in her collection

that we love but it's her bracelets that

are especially thought provoking.
They dramatize the artist's point

of view succinctly and directly.

These "Magnetic Rubberized Bracelets" are
remarkable. The artist has taken chain and dipped
it in rubber. We find them to be reminiscent
of cords or ropes.

This "Forged Sterling Silver Bracelet" is striking.
 The combination of patination and
granulation adds so much to the elaborate design.
The edges closest to the wearer seem so fierce
yet they're the part we like the best.

This piece is called "Etched Cuff."

It has an outer layer of etched copper that is 

attached to sterling silver. We sense
a fierce armor-like quality in it
similar to chainmail.

This piece is called "Reticulation Bracelet."

In this bracelet, we see layers of sterling silver

elements that are attached to a solid base giving

an initial impression of armor, yet at the same

time we sense distinct imagery of

delicate petals softly caressing the wrist.

Interesting.

Lots of beauty to absorb.

Lots of new thoughts to ponder.

Remarkable. Striking.

Beautiful.

We really can't stop thinking about them.

How do you feel?



Imogen Belfield Jewelry

Words like molten, raw,
volcanic, and dangerous
are not usually used when describing
jewelry.  Imogen Belfield creates jewelry
that blends artistic craftsmanship with an edgy,
flamboyant yet fashionable flair.
Each piece makes a statement
and captures one’s imagination.

Her distinctive collection features
nuggests of metal
clustered and encrusted
upon themselves.
Amazing textures, dramatic shapes,
stunning formations - they all
seem so otherworldly.
One can easily imagine that they might
have been spewed from the depths of a volcano,
or left behind by meteors showering
our planet with intergalactic detritus.
And much of her work is named to suggest
just such associations.
We are especially captivated by
her “Equilibrium” series
which she describes as being
 inspired by "star clusters, bubbling gases,
spiralling milky ways, and angular meteorites."

Here are a few of our favorites.


This ring is called ORBITAL
and features 22K gold-plated bronze.


 

 

 

 

Her signature bubble effect

is taken to the next level
in this ring called
Bubble Knuckle which also
features 22K gold-plated bronze.

 

These earrings are called Gold Nuggets.
They are made with 22K gold-plated sterling silver.



 

 

In this ring called Plasma, we love the way the
polished metal is snuggled within the protective
embrace of her signature molten bubbles.
It features 22K gold-plated bronze with
white porcelain fused beneath the
surface of the bronze.

 

Innovative techniques and a spirit of'
exploration capture and inspire
our imaginations.
Here we see work that is created
thoughtfully and meticulously
yet the results appear
spontaneous and serendipitous.
The final effect is stunning and inspiring.

Enjoy!