EIGHT

For spring break, my jewelry design professor gave us quite the hefty project, three earrings and a ring with pearls. But I finally had the chance to branch out and use other things besides bugs as inspiration. For example:
That thing around Jesus' head, not really your everyday halo. That is what I based my following designs on.
I started with some really REALLY rough sketches
Tightened up the designs and painted a few. The one on the left is 18k yellow gold, black pearl post earring. Middle is 18k yellow gold, black pearl, white teardrop pearl, diamond drop earring with sapphire cluster (this is obviously a nod to Metal Monk), and the earring on the right is a fluke. All are pencil and painted in gouache and watercolor. Work in progress.

SEVEN

Debut of my work on the interwebs..homework is my boyfriend and I must show him off. Contrary to popular belief, I don't have a weird obsession with bugs. I actually think all bugs, including the most beautiful majestic magical damn butterfly to be horrible creatures that must be annihilated. BUT having a common theme, in my case bugs, makes for a really strong portfolio and I've been having fun manipulating ideas.
Descriptions below each slide...
Mock up for a flexible bracelet. Bug wing motif is hand carved in wax. Will be cast in sterling silver. Toggle and other findings to be cast later. Obviously a work in progress.

The following are samples of work from my jewelry design (rendering) class. I never appreciated painting until this semester, as I am pursuing a degree in studio. Thanks, Lauren Pipkorn!
18k yellow gold flexible bracelet. Pencil and gouache. This is when I first started incorporating the bug wing motif and the insect theme as a whole in my designs.
18k yellow gold and citrine "June Bug" flexible bracelet. Pencil, gouache, watercolor.
18k yellow gold and pave diamond "Ant" flexible bracelet. Pencil, gouache, watercolor.














The premise of the project above is basically, an old lady comes to you with a family heirloom (in this case, a big ass sapphire) and you have to design a brooch or pendant that is animal or nature themed. How convenient! I didn't even have to start trying to design for a different theme/motif even if I really really really really really seriously wanted to.
I mean, I actually really seriously wanted to...
In any case, this is 18k yellow gold, sugarloaf sapphire, and diamonds. Spider Brooch.

FIVE

I stumbled across this jewelry designers website a week or so ago and I thought it was pretty interesting. Emiko Oye uses new and used LEGOS, precious metals, gemstones, among other recycled materials in all designs. Some of the earrings look really chintzy...actually really shitty. But other than that, there are some really interesting necklaces and bracelets. I'm not sure how much creativity went into play here....and the price point is kind of outrageous. $165 for a bracelet made of LEGOS, come on!
Now look at this crazy thang:
INTENSE!

www.rewarestyle.com

THREE

I'm not sure how I feel about this...
Eric Klarenbeek (sometimes Eric Lauren Beck), an artist based in the Netherlands, has created eye jewelry that is essentially an embellished contact lens. This may creep some people out or seem worthless, but this is actually a novel idea. Some prime time thinking outside the box was definitely had. According to the designer, and models who have tried them on, these jewels do not cause eye irritation...I would hate to see what those feel/look like after having a crazy night out...or on a really windy day...or on someone with pets and small children around...or when they swing up and hit the wearer in the eye....just saying...

All in all, pretty cool.
Check these out in action on youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWzllOnYW-4&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eericklarenbeek%2Ecom%2Fyoutube2%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded

TWO

The first result for a google image search of "gaudy jewelry"

ONE

I’ve quickly realized that I enjoy being on the outside looking in with certain scenarios. In this case, I’ve learned that sometimes it’s much more pleasing to merely admire a garment, a painting, or an accessory, than it is to indulge and buy it. There is no need to be another number falling into the ranks of those suckered by the retail markets. I can appreciate the stitching on a pair or pants, the way a stone was set on a ring, how fabrics and colors are manipulated to portray a certain vibe, and an infinite amount of other things that are overlooked by probably 97% of the population aka those non creative types, to be blunt.

Number One will start off the collection of things worth looking at and appreciating. Proof that things do not need to be bought to be enjoyed.

I would like to start off with introducing one of my favorite jewelry designers, Dori Csengeri. Really, this lady is nuts. She is actually trained as a textile designer, but she makes the most wonderful hand sewn jewels around. She uses silk, cabochons, fine stones, shell, wood, leather, and magic in the majority of her pieces. Absolutely gorgeous; statement pieces that need to be the focal point of an outfit. Kudos, Dori.

Her website, doricsengeri.com, is really easy to navigate, and the quality of the pictures is really awesome, it’s easy to see all the details of each piece. There is also a great “color search” where you can pick a color/color combinations and every piece of jewelry that matches the criteria pops up, no matter what collection it is a part of. Many people think the earrings she designs are too big (example below). These are statement pieces, people. Meant to be worn alone. The days of matching sets of earring, bracelet, necklace, and ring are over. As an overly proud owner of a pair of huuuuuuge Dori Csengeri scarlet red chandelier earrings, I can vouch for the designer with the fact that they are not “too much” or “too heavy.”

Beauty is pain, anyway.