Artist Statement
Artist Statement
Adornment has been a form of expression worn to enhance the beauty or status of the wearer since humans began to create and search for ways to individuate and express themselves. Jewelry should be beautiful and highly inspirational. I have many muses. Nature, architecture, primitive artifacts, and sculpture speak to me most often. My goal is to create unique jewelry pieces that speak to their owner and evoke a feeling of warmth and empowerment. My endeavor is to create designs via texture, organic shapes and hand-finishing that capture the imagination. I am a Precious Metal Clay (PMC) Certified Artisan. I design and make one-of-a-kind pieces of art jewelry. My goal is to create ancestral heirlooms. PMC is a fairly new medium that has captivated jewelry artists across the globe. PMC is available in fine silver, 22 carat gold and platinum. The process for making PMC jewelry is quite different from traditional metal-smithing, requires an additional set of skills that tap into those of potters and sculptors, and is ultimately more environmentally friendly. The outcome is often a piece that looks more organic, which is one of its benefits. But PMC can also be finished with traditional metalsmithing techniques if an artist chooses, for a more polished look. My design process is often guided by mood and whatever muse has captivated me on a given day. Sometimes a particular twig or leaf inspires a piece of jewelry. Sometimes an antique light fixture or the facade of an old building will be my inspiration. I'm a big fan of primitive art and am often guided by ancestral work. Sometimes I draw the design. Often it just comes straight from my mind, guiding my hands as I play with the clay; evolving as the piece progresses. The beauty of metal clay is that it is very forgiving, allowing for changes in direction if desired by the artist. I often layer my designs, so my pieces tend to evolve over days or weeks. The end result is a unique piece of jewelry that will speak to some and hopefully find a loving home. |
Julie Beucherie