Vibrant Paper Flowers - Begoña Rentero Jewelry

Springtime flowers can help
revive a dreary autumn day -
especially when those flowers are handmade
 with silk and paper.
 

 Fiber artist Begoña Rentero creates
lush, layered, textural jewelry
in eye-popping colors.

 

 

  

  

   

Speaking of bright, cheerful fiber art jewelry,
if you’d like to revisit some of the

contemporary work previously featured

on this blog, there’s quite a lot to see.

 Click on each name to see designs

created by Ana Hagopian, Carol Windsor,

Francesca Vitali, Lydia Hirte,

Sabrina Meyns and Tia Kramer.

 

Each utilizes an innovative

approach to working in this medium,

most are self taught, and each of their creations

counters the preconception about jewelry

 having to be made with precious
metals and expensive gems.

And to see more of Begoña Rentero's work,
visit her delightfully cheery website.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Parchment Blossoms - Ulrike Hamm Jewelry

Trained as a goldsmith, Ulrike Hamm's skills

are well honed and meticulous.

However this artist doesn't work in gold or

any type of metal;

instead she works with parchment. 

And her jewelry is elaborate, intriguing and delicate.

Parchment is a durable material

made from the skin of an animal

 (usually goat, calf, sheep or deer)

and was commonly used as a

 writing paper up until medieval times.

 While not as common today, its strong

and elastic nature does lend

itself to exploration and many creative

 possibilities - including jewelry

 that is translucent and delicate.

The artist explains her point of view

and methods on her website,

Parchment is not a common material . . . it is a stubborn, mysterious, vivid, precious and unpredictable material that wants to be explored and conquered. Its inspirational appearance and characteristics allow me to constantly discover new aspects and possibilities . . . . I develop three-dimensional forms out of the flat surface and test different dyeing or printing techniques on it. I dye the pre-cut parts in various stages in a colour bath, and while they are still elastic I shape and assemble them into jewellery.

Her explorations of this material lead to jewelry

that, as the artist says, "reward us with a

 vitality of colour, graceful shapes

and a resilient lightness."

It's easy to love her floral-themed bracelets

and earrings.

We've shown another artist who also works

with animal skin in experimental ways,

 Marta Mattson and her work is equally

as intriguing.

The translucent quality of parchment

 lends itself extremely well

to the delicacy and softness of

these handmade blossoms.

This one is a definite favorite of mine.

 

Unusual materials handled in unexpected ways

lead to exquisite pieces of jewelry

that can take one's breath away.

This artist creates floral pieces

with subtle colorations

and lifelike realism.

More information is available

at Ulrike Hamm's website.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Carol Windsor Jewelry

It's easy to get inspired when an artist

combines a love of vibrant color with a

passion for bold design.

Carol Windsor creates vivacious jewelry

made of sterling silver and paper,

and she has honed her repertoire

over the years showcasing

delicate blossoms and leaves.

Each piece is light, airy and almost

translucent.

It's always interesting to understand

how an artist creates their work.

This jewelry artist clearly explains her process

of painstakingly creating each piece by hand

and transforming raw materials into colorful

foliage that is light and airy:

"I developed a technique of laminating sterling silver between 2 to 5 layers of very thin acid free paper. The metal has been oxidized a dark color and shows through the translucent paper like veins in a petal or leaf. Each petal or leaf is made individually. A wire frame is made defining the shape. It is placed on a small square of paper. Small wire segments are arranged within it. Another paper square or two are placed on top and then the “sandwich” is sealed with an archival glue. Once dry the petals and leaves are trimmed, sprayed with an acrylic and bent into shape. The “twigs” which connect the parts are textured with a diamond burr, oxidized, then dimpled with a burr to suggest a spot where a branch has broken off."

Here are a few delightful examples of her lovely work.

These petals are lovely and such a peace-inducing color.

We like the energetic colors in this piece.

We love the range of spectral colors in this necklace.

These petals are translucent and lighter than air.

And so pretty.

We're excited by the range of color

and intricate, life-like designs.

It's apparent that

creativity blooms everywhere.

Enjoy!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Tia Kramer Jewelry

Paper is one of those mediums that has

never-ending possibilities.

The different ways in which it can be used

and assembled into countless shapes

can boggle the mind.

For Tia Kramer handmade paper is an obsession.

Her jewelry mobiles, easily labeled as Calder-esque,

are self described as "performative sculptures for

one’s ears, architecture for the body."

By combining sterling silver structures with handmade

paper, she creates pieces that are sculptural, 

ethereal and energetic.

Having honed her repertoire over the years,

starting with large-scale suspended-art installations,

Tia's work has evolved over the years

to become what one might call

'minuscule art installations' 

of personal adornment.

 Her artistic metamorphosis now results in 

jewelry designs that are buoyant, 

translucent and durable.

She creates her jewelry using her own

handmade paper and sterling silver.

It's all cold fabrication -

 bending the wire and wrapping the paper -

producing a soul-satisfying result.

Multiple layers and intricate designs

combine to form really enchanting pieces.

Here is a complex combination comprised

of a necklace and earrings that interconnect. 

They can be worn separately or together.

Either way they are

magnificent statement pieces.

We love the bright, cheery colors

and the bounciness of the design.

This neckpiece contains a necklace,

bracelet and brooch.

The interplay of positive and negative

space is intriguing.

Here's the bracelet on its own.

We love these earrings.

And these earrings, too.



We adore the endless combinations and permutations

created in her work.

We also love the myriad simpler designs that she creates.

 Regardless of size and complexity,

each is filled with charm

energy and motion.

The bottom line is we'd love to collect them all.

Enjoy!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Ana Hagopian Jewelry

Paper and fiber jewelry created by
Ana Hagopian is a wondrous feast for the eyes.
Texture and color dominate her work.

It's very easy to recognize the commitment
and talent this artist brings to her work;
one can see the sensitivity and the
delicate skill it takes to create
these pieces.

Over the years, Ana has developed
an astonishing range of jewelry including
pieces that are geometric and architectural
 in style, and those that are more relaxed
and organic in style. Our favorites are her
hand-sculpted floral necklaces featuring
wildly-extravagant profusions of blossoms.
The subtle variations among her
floral pieces lead to a rich, layered
effect that's realistic and idealized
at the same time. The results of all her efforts
combine to create an impressive world
of textural magic.

We'd like to take the liberty of traveling back
and forth among her current and previous
 collections to look at some of our favorites.

These two-tone blooms

are sweet and lively.

We really like these

flowers made from felt.
We're being to feel like
springtime is arriving.

Here's another version of these
particular blooms that are
bright and tender.

Lush and densely-packed together

flowers seem to be filled with

life and vibrancy.

So lush and light.
Delicate and powerful at the same time.

We love the delicate tendrils

in this brightly-colored piece.

The sheer lusciousness of saturated color in this necklace

causes a physical reaction – it makes our hearts beat

faster every time we see it.

This jewelry truly is a celebration of nature

in all her glory.

Some pieces are ethereal
and diaphanous; some are
made with heavy, dense felt.
They're all filled with textural
elements and spectacular color
that just takes our breath away.

We're inspired by all this
beauty.

How are you?

reade more... Résuméabuiyad