Studio 44 Jewelry

Artist Profile

I most enjoy the process of designing a new piece: thinking about color, balance, texture, and form. I have spent many hours searching gem shows to find distinctive gemstones to include in my work. Each piece that I make is the culmination not only of this searching, but of time spent imagining many variations leading to the final design, and of the actual creation of the work.

I’ve been interested in gemstones since my first childhood rock collection, and I’ve loved jewelry for as long as I can remember. I will soon be completing my certification as a Gemologist, and am constantly learning new techniques and creating new jewelry designs.

Education

Santiago Canyon College, Orange, CA • 2006 – Present: Gemology Certificate Program
Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA • 2006 – Present: Jewelry Fabrication
University of California, Irvine, CA • 1993: Certificate Program for Computers in Graphic Design
Rice University, Houston, TX • 1984: Bachelor’s Degree, (Computer Science)

Career History

The following represents an eclectic history, to say the least!

Jewelry Designer & Fabricator: 2006–Present
Expression Graphic Design Sole Proprietor: 1994–Present
Unisys Corporation Software Development & Support: 1984–1992

About the Work

What I do is known as "fabrication." A piece of jewelry begins with a flat sheet of metal (usually sterling silver), wire, gemstones, and an idea. The piece is then fabricated from these raw materials. The techniques include:

  • piercing (drilling holes),
  • sawing (using a jeweler's hand saw to cut the desired shape from the sheet metal),
  • soldering (one of the common ways to connect pieces of metal),
  • hammering (to shape and texture),
  • and an assortment of other methods!