Brooch, 2018. Bronze, sterling silver, vitreous enamel, graphite. Lost wax cast, hand fabricated, hand drawn, torch fired, electroetched.
Just as I do in my graphic design work, I impose creative constraints for my jewelry designs. Working within constraints always leads me to better, more inventive ideas.
In The Beekeeper’s Dream, I forced myself to design around the theme of honeybees, to add an original enameled illustration, and create a brooch. And, as my sketches for this piece evolved, a backstory emerged. I imagined a beekeeper’s thoughts in his final moments, in the throes of a fever dream. What would he see in his mind’s eye? – His boyhood home and father’s watch fob, an apiarist's manual, a love letter, a school project.
I intended this piece to look like a memory that has settled and materialized in metal – a glimpse into a dream. I hoped that others would puzzle over its meaning and search for clues.
This piece was featured in Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine. Learn more here.
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