
Brooch by Iris Aglom via Klimt02
I just looove jewelry makers. Whatever their process, favorite materials or style. There's always something that sparks my imagination. My tastes run more towards art/studio jewelry, but I even get ideas from what Maggie Bergman from Australia calls red, white and blue jewelry. Rubies, Diamonds and Sapphires. In other words traditional gold or platinum wedding ring/Oscar worthy type designs.
I don't look at other artists work to copy or emulate their style. I want to absorb their construction, found materials choices, clasps, connections and shapes. And I try not to do a sketch of an entire piece, just the bit I want to remember. Then I put it away and let it percolate. The next time I sit down at my bench those elements have migrated into my own aesthetic and I can feel free to use them - knowing I'm not copying, but just using them as a jumping off place.
"Fruit 2008" by Myung Urso via Klimt02
Navigating around
Klimt02 is kind of like finding your way through a renaissance hedge maze. There are beautiful examples at every twist and turn, but be careful you don't get lost in the carefully manicured forest. Some of the work I really resonate with, some leaves me wondering why bother? But if I look closely enough, there's always something there that I hadn't imagined before and it makes me think.
18kt. is much more eyes straight forward. A long restful walk through a hall of wonders. In her wonderful blog, Marta Sanchez shows multiple images of each artist's work. I love how some of them have taken one simple element or theme and expanded on it to create an entire line of unique jewelry.
Take a tour this weekend and start a visual journal of work that inspires you, sketch out the bits and pieces. Then go out into a lovely day and play. When you come back I bet you have an idea or two just bursting to be realized.
Ring by Senay Akin via 18kt