5 Days in the Life of a Jeweler

reworking older work into new one-of-a-kind 

and limited edition pieces

A new Facebook challenge is surfacing called 5 Days in the Life of a Jeweler:

"If you get nominated, then once a day for 5 days running you post what it means to you, on a day-to-day level, to be a jeweler. Include a pic of your work if you like and each day you nominate a fellow jeweler to take part."

I was nominated by jeweler, UW alum, and friend, Michelle Jansuy.

What does it mean to me to be a jeweler? Every day is different. I spend on average half my day making work and half my day doing business. I make jewelry for my galleries, fill Etsy orders, make wedding rings and other custom jewelry, and create one-of-a-kind and conceptual work for exhibitions... I answer emails, blog and do other online marketing, prepare classes and lectures, create invoices, do my bookkeeping. I also try to sketch, write about my work, and pursue other creative projects. I don't do all of these things every day, but I often juggle many of them. I think this is typical for anyone in the field and anyone making art. The varied to-do list keeps things interesting, and challenging. It also keeps me on my toes and pretty much ready for anything. I love what I do, every bit of it.

This week I have a busier than usual schedule as I prepare to leave for 16 days but I want to participate. So, instead of five consecutive days, here are five recent images from my studio that illustrate the five-day challenge, all pictures of the making half of my life as a jeweler:

prepping production jewelry for my upcoming trunk show 

at Velouria in Seattle

making an 18K yellow gold wedding band

documenting contributions for the Pearl Piece 

for my solo exhibition at Sienna Patti Contemporary

painting a selection of Regal Graffiti in my new Iceland palette

Thanks so much to Michelle for nominating me and for the kind words she wrote about me and my work on her FB post. Please check out her gorgeous work!

Finally, my nomination... I'm going to choose only one person since I'm only posting on one day. I would like to nominate Paul Adie, my friend and fellow metalsmith from Scotland. His work is wonderful, too!

Thanks for reading.

February at SÍM

I'm very happy to be back at SÍM in Reykjavík. I'm in my "old" space with that spectacular view of the sea, and given the winter weather, it's even more variable than over the early summer when I was here last. I love working in this spot. I love watching the clouds roll in and listening to the waves crash against the break wall.

I'm working on two new pieces for my upcoming solo exhibition at Sienna Gallery as well as developing the overall concept for the show, writing my artist statement, planning logistics, and so on. However, I won't make either piece until I return to the U.S.; this is just the research/thinking/writing part of my process. In addition to this work, I'm also taking my long walks, working with new found objects, making small drawings with horse hair, creating more videos, and, of course, shooting many, many photographs.

image of my view when I started writing this post

desk detail

image still from a video made in Blönduós

 horse hair drawing in my sketchbook

my latest finds from a low tide walk along the sea

image of my view when I was done writing this post, 

after about 20 minutes

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My View

A few maps, my plane ticket and the ticket from Park Avenue Armory when I saw tears become...streams become just before I flew here, the pattern and photocopy of Island of 14,264 Days, a postcard from my friend Dan's upcoming solo exhibition...

And then there's my view outside, which changes often as the sun moves, as the wind blows, and as the clouds roll along...

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Little Studio

Just a few images of my little studio at the residency, my first stitch on my new piece, and the view one afternoon last week... I feel pretty fortunate to be working in this space with this view. My work is going well. I work in one or two hour increments and take breaks in between to move my body and use my eyes in different ways. I usually take a walk at some point, do some reading, or work on my computer. I often work in silence, which feels luxurious, but sometimes I listen to music or podcasts. The days go by in a quiet way and I am enjoying every moment.

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Evidence

evidence of process: the lemon I peeled for "Smell,"printed thoughts and research, amethyst beads I didn't use

Process is very important to me and I do love documenting it. However, time during my residency was limited and I did not really use any of it to stop for photos. There are a few, though, and I'm grateful that I have them. I spent three weeks at CCA, arriving each morning between 9:30 and 10. During the first week, I developed my ideas through reading, thinking, writing and sketching. I also visited the gallery to spend time in the elevator to understand the space directly, both physically and mentally. By the end of the week, I had formed a more concrete idea and plan. During the second week, I started to collect the various found objects and I made nine chains. I also started to make the all-metal pieces, like the ear trumpet for "Hearing." Then, in the final week, the bows were made, the metalwork was completed and the necklaces were put together. The whole process was a mixture of constant planning and just allowing the piece to unfold. I was keenly aware of time but tried to hold it loosely. Thinking back, it's interesting to me that the creation of the work itself was mirroring the finished piece: that balance of cognition and intuition that I presented with a collection of tools and 1000 paper bows. 

morning light on my first day

some books I used for research and reference

I tried things that didn't work out…

I spent hours making hundreds of jump rings

The day before I finished the work, I cleaned up my space and arranged the pieces both finished and still in-progress on my table so I could walk into an orderly studio and look with fresh eyes the next day.

my bench at the end of my residency

paper remnants from 1000 bows

See more pictures of process on Flickr.

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Now I am Here, #5

A view of my space from above. Books, laptop, notes, drawings, paper models, metal, collection of found objects…

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No Time for Down Time

dust silhouettes on my bench

I'm back in upstate NY and already back in my studio. Everything here is just as I left it, except for a layer of dust, which is now gone. My lists and deadlines are in order, too, and I'll be spending the week getting back on track before diving into the bench.

Iceland feels so faraway and so close, my experiences like a dream and like the absolute best reality. So where do I begin? Tomorrow I'll show you…

freshly cleaned studio

a vintage postcard of Gullfoss hanging in my studio…

Gullfoss is a waterfall in Iceland I saw just a week ago

Thanks for reading.

Sím Progress Report: New Studio

I moved into a new studio at Sím for my last month. This space is on the other side of the residency building but still has a similar view. I basically kept the set up the same which made the transition easier. I'm reading some new books, too...

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All I Need

my studio

Just a few images of my studio…a much different space from anything I've been in before because there are no tools and no materials. This space is really just for reading, thinking and drawing. I have a desk to sit at and tables for the things I've been collecting, and that's really all I need.

my desk

one of the books I've been studying

the view from my studio

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I am Truly Happiest When I am Alone in My Studio

My studio is looking pretty sweet and I love being in there. There's a lot of stress at home helping to take care of my dad so I find true refuge in my space, probably more than I ever have. I haven't been able to spend much time working, so when I am in there, the time is precious. I now have my beloved Icelandic finds on the wall and in various arrangements, my books are organized and my bench is totally set-up. Today I was able to find two hours of uninterrupted time and I felt so relaxed, so very happy. Being in the studio alone is the best and this new one of mine is a special place already.

The title of this post is my Twitter status from yesterday. It's the thought I had as I stitched and listened to one of my favorite Icelandic bands, Hjaltalín.

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Pictures of Process

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In the Studio

I just posted more a photos in my latest album on my Facebook page, "In the Studio." There are images of my space and others of my assistant and I working. I think it's interesting to see workspaces and I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into my daily world.

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Nesting

I've been here at Nes for 23 days and my studio feels like home. I've been collecting, too...fishing nets, pieces of broken buoys, a fish skull...everyday something new.

More pictures on Facebook and Flickr.

Thanks for reading.