I grew up in a small Ohio city. To be frank, I never cared for the rural, farm-like, grey town. Though I always knew I wanted to get away from the Midwest, never in my life did I imagine that I would be living in California. Not only that, but I never really realized the vastness of natural beauty until I moved to California. It’s easy to find inspiration here. When I lived in San Francisco my dorm overlooked the Golden Gate bridge and the San Francisco sky-line. Now, living in Los Angeles, I drive through mountains and cities on a daily basis and am confronted with cultural and geographical differences everywhere I look. When traveling in other countries, my camera never stops taking pictures of what I see as exotic and majestic, fascinated that the natives find it all commonplace.
After seeing such inspiring places, I wasn’t looking forward to going back to Ohio or Kentucky, my alma matter, for the first time after leaving. But instead of seeing the gray, boring landscape of my childhood, my eyes suddenly had a new appreciate for an equivalent, albeit different, beauty of what I always saw as normal.
Here are some examples of photos I have taken of the beauty I have found in both the “gray” and also the glamorous, and how I have transformed their inspirations into jewelry:
It doesn’t matter where we are or what resources we do or do not have around us. What matters, and what makes a difference, is the lenses of the eyes of which we look at the world around us.
Where do you find your inspiration? Look around! It’s everywhere!
Love this site. Great art, great crafts, and great witness. I misread the name, however. I thought "Beat Up" was what you did to your brother until he turned 9 and started looking down on you. Love Your old man (check out my blog -- travelswithjulie.blogspot.com)
I made my first jewelry sale at the age of 8 when I initiated a fund raiser for a terminally ill classmate outside of the cafeteria during lunch. The product? Old school friendship bracelets! We sold $30 worth on the first day - a large sum in the eyes of a 2nd grader selling constructed string!
My passion continued through my youth as I mastered the art of camp gimp bracelets and teenage hemp necklaces. While shopping in a flea market in Beijing a new medium struck my interest: semi-precious beads! I have since been fascinated with the medium as an element in formal and casual jewelry alike.
Though some of the materials I use in my jewelry are from the local craft store, I purchased a good deal of my materials while bargaining in Chinese on the streets of Shanghai or San Francisco. I thus hope each of my pieces act as a mini-souvenir of places we have each been or hope to go.
I hope you enjoy joining me on my jewelry journey - thanks for reading :)
Not sure if it's just me, but some of your formatting (html) isn't showing up right.
ReplyDeleteBesides that, I love this post. I always enjoy seeing what people use as inspiration and how it translates to their art.
gorgeous jewelry!!
ReplyDeleteLove this site. Great art, great crafts, and great witness. I misread the name, however. I thought "Beat Up" was what you did to your brother until he turned 9 and started looking down on you.
ReplyDeleteLove
Your old man
(check out my blog -- travelswithjulie.blogspot.com)