My Journey in Metals

My Background:
I have a background in graphic design and worked for many years in corporate graphic design as well as freelancing.

My love of craft goes back to early childhood so it is no surprise that while working as a graphic designer, pottery making/throwing was a hobby for ten years, in addition to night school art classes completing a studio art degree. It was during this time that I took a few classes in jewelry and fell in love with working in metals. (I hope to at some point combine all three of these skills in a collection of containers.) https://www.etsy.com/shop/janiceartcreative

My Jewelry Making Story:
I invested in my jewelry studio in 2008, purchasing a water torch and began a journey of finding my aesthetic point of view knowing that I wanted to combine my love of graphic design, pattern and typography into metal jewelry.

My Process:
All of my work is completely fabricated by me from flat sheet, wire and tubing and is produced on a made to order basis. Every piece is a one off so customizations can be done. My designs are created on computer and chemically etched into flat sheet metal. Etching is a technique with origins in printmaking dating back to 15th century Germany. Other texturizing techniques employed are stamping, traditional hand engraving with a graver, roller printing and hammering.

Making Green Jewelry and Social Entrepreneurship:
In 2011, I went to using almost all reclaimed precious metals in my work and switching to a natural pickle. I am an environmentally conscious person, so reducing my footprint happens in the studio where I can. March 2016, I took a class at Mendocino Art Center on Galvanic Etching. This is an alternative to the chemical etch process and uses electricity and battery charger with a solution that isn't toxic. I have finally got the sterling and copper/brass systems up and running and have fully transitioned to this new non-toxic etching method. Yay!

In mid 2015, I began, Janice Art Jewelry's "Tree Rings Project", in which a portion of ring sales go to Trees for the Future (trees.org) which plants trees and helps communities. I will be setting up a page on my website for tracking the progress. Right now you can learn more on my Facebook page.

I have become very interested in social entrepreneurship after reading "Do the The Kind Thing" by Daniel Lubetzky in 2015. My favorite publications for this are Salt Magazine and Conscious Company Magazine. I am excited about how this will inform my future endeavours.

My Education:
I have attended classes at Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco and Mendocino Art Center in Northern California. In addition, I have also studied jewelry and metal arts at both California State Fullerton and Pasadena City College. I hold a BA in Studio Art from California State University, Fullerton and a diploma in Packaging Design from Humber College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Where I have Shown:

2013-2015:
• Orange County Creatives, Laguna Beach, California
• La Galeria Gitana, San Fernando, California
• Harriet's General, Culpeper, Virginia
• Mountain Nest Gallery, Black Mountain, North Carolina

2012:
• Manika Jewelry Gallery, San Francisco, California
• Galeria Boca Roja, Mallorca, Spain

Group Shows:
2015 Holiday RAWk Artist Showcase • Orange County, CA
2015 Chocolate and Art Show • Los Angeles, CA
2013 RAW Artist Showcase ENCOMPASS • Orange County, CA
2012 Revere@Manika • Manika Jewelry Gallery, San Francisco, California

Thank you!