Birds of a Feather Flock Together - Gabrielle Gould Jewelry

Birdwatching is an interesting

 hobby for many people.

Happily, one doesn’t need a

field guide and binoculars

to view the humorous collection of

birds and other wildlife

created by Gabrielle Gould.

Taking inspiration from

the woodlands and wetlands

around her home in Florida,

this artist creates

little critters of all types,

but it's her adorable feathered friends

that we find absolutely enchanting.

Handcrafted in sterling silver

and embellished with enamels, mixed metals,

and occasionally feathers, each delightful

bird in this menagerie has an individual character,

 and each brings cheerfulness and

a strong dash of whimsy.

Over the years we've seen many of her avian creations.

Here are some of our favorite pendants.

They are similar to one another

yet very different.

Some are bright and colorful

while others display more subdued

colorations.

 

All are cute, adorable and sweet.

And irresistible.

Viewing this jewelry

is a lot like embarking on

an avian adventure.

We love how this artist's style is easily

recognizable and each piece brings

a smile to one's face.

It's a fun way to wear jewelry

and connect with nature at the same time.

More jewelry can be seen

at Gabrielle Gould's website.

Enamel Flowers by Linda Darty

The rich color of transparent enamels fired over

polished metal is delicate and fascinating.

One of our favorite enamelists is

Linda Darty.   This artist, author, and teacher
does it all and does it wonderfully well.

Her current collection features a broad range

of recurring floral motifs, but they're

 not just simple flowers.

Her jaw-dropping silver settings are designed as 

flowers, leaves and branches which are

then matched with delicately

enameled blossoms.

She is a master of champlevé and cloisonné

enamel techniques and it is these particular pieces in her

collection that we love the most.

But sometimes it's difficult to decide which are

more beautiful - the settings or the enamel centerpieces.

As one examines her work in the light the viewer

notices different colors

begin to appear more pronounced.

It's mesmerizing to turn it in the light and

enjoy its richness and depth.

 The enameling medium is demanding and unforgiving.

Yet when done well the effects can be spectacular.

Her painterly approach to enameling

 produces irresistible gemlike surfaces, brilliant colors,

extraordinary depth and varied textures.

Luckily, for those who love her designs

 there will be an opportunity to see some of her

work in person this month.

Linda will be participating in the annual Signs of Life

contemporary jewelry art show being exhibited

at Facèré Art Jewelry Gallery.

One of her contributions to this event will be

a multi-dimensional brooch created with 

her trademark champlevé and cloisonné

enamel techniques.

It's called Santa Maria del Fiore.

Signs of Life 2011 showcases work by only nine jewelry

artists paired with nine writers in a unique

publication that celebrates both

literature and jewelry art.

This exhibition will run from

October 5 - October 26, 2011.

For more information about the

Signs of Life exhibition you can visit

Facere Art Jewelry Gallery.

And for more info about the artist
you can visit her website.

Innovative and Experimental: Stacey Bentley Jewelry

Innovative and experimental.

These are the words that come to

mind when viewing work created

by Stacey Bentley.

Using iron, wire, silver 

and enamels this artist is changing the

face of enamel jewelry and 

exploring a method of expression that

breaks away from traditional

ideas and processes.

Her work in enamel is unconventional.

Going beyond standard procedures

she creates pieces where the enamel rises

above the surface of the metal rather

 than fusing onto it.

By underfiring the enamel she

 produces gritty textures and matte finishes

that evoke the urban landscape.

This helps us understand her

fascination with the raw industrial

contrast of life, corrosion and decay.

Each framework she creates is also unusual.

 Shapes are organic, layered and

have varied thickness. Each contributes

additional interest and texture to her designs.

 Here's are examples of her work that emphasize

 rich colors and unusual textures.

It gets even more intriguing when she

removes some of the enamel to reveal

the metal framework beneath.

Geometric shapes are occasionally

 combined with her asymmetrical designs.

We like how she experiments with each

aspect of the metalsmithing process

 as well as the enameling process.

Each structure seems haphazard yet

controlled at the same time.

For those familiar with the smooth velvet surfaces

 of enamels and the painterly aspects of

its application these pieces might seem

unusual and disconcerting.

We are inspired by this artist's willingness

to push the boundaries of what jewelry should

look like and how enamels should feel.

We admire her innovations

and experimentation.

What do you think?

Stephanie Tomczak Jewelry

We really like jewelry that is abstract,

 imaginative, and a bit avant garde.

Jewelry created by Stephanie Tomczak

is definitely all these things and more.

We like the fact that her ocean-inspired

 jewelry, called Oceanic Gems,

pushes the known boundaries

of aquatic life and explores elements

concocted from the realm of

the artist's imagination.  

Stephanie’s current work seems to

have a life of its own. It features materials

like polymer, copper, sterling silver,

enamels, coral beads, turquoise,

sponge, bone and shell.

This seemingly incongruous assemblage

of materials, colors, and textures

combined with Stephanie's imaginative

playfulness results in jewelry that is

 eye-catching and engaging.

Here are some of our favorites

of her ingenious creations.

This necklace is not your

ordinary string of beads.

 Here's another necklace we love.

This one seems delightfully simple yet

dwells in complexities.

 

Here's another engaging piece.

Creative, imaginative, abstract.

We are inspired when

an artist works with materials in unusual ways.  

When combined with a delightful imagination

and a whole lot of creativity

 the result is lighthearted pieces of

art jewelry.

We'd be happy to own

any of them.

Lisa Hawthorne Jewelry

Sometimes it’s all about color.

Bright, joyful, exuberant color.

Lisa Hawthorne's jewelry

certainly fills the need -

it’s bold in style and bold in color.

Lisa's work is readily recognizable

by her detailed

cloisonné enameling technique.

And so many of her pieces feature

shimmery-smooth, eye-popping color –

some pieces are downright luminescent.

Whether she is working with cool tones

or a warm palette of color,

we have to admit that each piece

consistently brightens our day.

There are so many pieces to see and admire -

here's a necklace we simply adore.

 Here's an example of a belt buckle.

 

Here's a fun cuff.

Here's a bold neckpiece that

features a cooler palette.

 

 

 

  and this one is truly a showstopper!

 

 

After all that vividness and vibrancy

we have to admit we are definitely

 feeling awake and energized.

And inspired.

How about you?

Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts.

 

Enjoy!

Jessica Calderwood Jewelry

Enameled jewelry always arouses our interest.

We are enamored with the detailed and intricate

enameled work that Jessica Calderwood

creates because she has a wonderful

ability to make it look like it's hand painted.

Most of her pieces depict the

human face. We are inspired by her

ability to create nuance and subtlety in each face,

and we especially enjoy the fact

that while each facial feature is shown in

exquisite detail, the emotion

in each remains enigmatic.

Here is an example of her lovely work

called "Modern Mary."

Here is another brooch called "Chew and Swallow."

and here we see a piece called "Blink."

And we have to include one of our favorite brooches

called "Hair Curlers."

The details are superb.

The craftsmanship is wonderful.

We are inspired in more ways than one.

Are you inspired?

Let us know what you think.

We'd love to hear from you.

Kim Lucci Elbualy Jewelry

We have recently become aware

of the fascinating jewelry

designed by Kim Lucci Elbualy.

Her one-of-a-kind sculptural works

feature abstract forms in copper, silver,

enamel and patinas.

We usually admire a broad range of work

created by an artist; it's rare that we become

enthralled with one type or one aspect of someone's

work but in this case we have to admit there is

one particular series of brooches that we

crave. Can't really say why, but Kim's

"Entrance Series" is hands-down our favorite.

Here is Entrance I

See what we mean?

Simply fascinating!

Here is Entrance II

And we have to complete the series

with Entrance III

Remarkable. Striking. Intriguing.

We really can't stop admiring them.

What do you think?

Christy Klug Jewelry

Here is our third and final post showcasing the "JuJu Magic" exhibition currently on view
at Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery.

(You may also want to visit our other two posts about this exhibit, showcasing
Nancy Bonemma and Jan Smith.)

JuJu Magic runs from January 27, 2010 - February 15, 2010.

Here are some sophisticated examples of this theme offered by jewelry artist, Chrisy Klug.

This Pin/Pendant in vitreous enamel, 22k gold, copper, and oxidized sterling silver is called, 'Kinsei.'

Another Pin/Pendant in enamel, 22k gold, and oxidized sterling silver is called, 'Gris.'

Then we have Christy's 'Vienna' Ring in enamel, 22k gold, and oxidized sterling silver.

 

 

We all could stand to acquire a certain level of magical juju - to ward off the bad and to attract the good.

If you get a chance to see the exhibition, let us know your impressions.

Enjoy!

Nancy Bonnema Jewelry

Let take another look at the current exhibition, Juju Magic, being held at Facere Jewelry Art Gallery. 
This exhibition is running from January 27, 2010
through February 15, 2010.

(You may also want to visit our first post about this exhibit, showcasing Jan Smith Jewelry.)

"JuJu Magic" is a contemporary jewelry art show featuring seventeen artists with magic in mind.
As the gallery describes it - Juju is a word of West African origin that refers to the supernatural power ascribed to an object or fetish. The object that contains the juju can then be used to cure ailments (good juju) or even exact revenge (bad juju).

Throughout this exhibition, the artists of JuJu Magic have created their own interpretations of the theme. 

Here are a couple of delightful examples of work created by Nancy Bonnema.  This piece is from her Bubble Wands series - an enchanting pendant in sterling silver and enamel on copper.

Here is another interpretation of a Bubble Wand pendant that Nancy has also made with sterling silver and enamel on copper.

We can envision the magic bubbles floating from these wands successfully warding off malevolent attacks from mean-spirited people. 

Maybe we all should get ourselves a magic bubble wand.

Or two.

If you're in the area, pop in to see the exhibition.  Let us know what you think.