I knew I was an artist at a very early age. Perhaps it was when my mother found I was drawing castles and giants on the underside of her coffee table. Or possibly when we went on vacation and my sisters were getting toys as souvenirs and I was picking out sparkly costume jewelry. In any event, my course was set.

I graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bacholors of Fine Arts (Metal) and moved into the real world. Finding work as a jeweler, especially a woman jeweler many years ago, wasn’t easy. But there was no other path for me. I worked as a bench jeweler, designing and fixing jewelry, and doing my own designs in my off time. I earned a Graduate Gemologist Diploma from the Gemological Institute in America along the way. I wanted to know everything and anything about jewelry.

And I acquired a husband and child somewhere in there.

Then a couple of decades ago, I met an enamelist. My world exploded. The colors! The light! The many techniques available to learn. It was like a huge explosion in my artistic life. I started with cloisonnê, the making of enamel backed with metal and made with cells of fine gold or silver wire, filling them with colors. So many colors!

And you could add gems. It was glitter-glorious!

Then I turned to plique á jour, where enamel is suspended between a wire framework, and resembles stained glass. More color, different light, different design horizons opened up.

All this time I was working as a design jeweler, making high end fine jewelry. I incorporated what I knew from that into my enamel works. I constantly learned new techniques, including portraiture, and new metal techniques, including granulation and metal weaving.

Today it is a kaleidoscope of designing. Part of one discipline combines with others, always looking to make something of beauty that brings joy to the soul.

georgia