The process …
My days are spent sculpting sterling forks into elegant contemporary pieces of jewelry. When people express surprise that my art is derived from simple forks I just smile and take it as a compliment.
As an intuitive artist I mostly allow my hands to take the lead. However inspiration does come from other places including contemporary artists such as Kandinsky or the minimalism of a Picasso line drawing. I like reducing complicated ideas to a single powerful fluid line.
Commission work …
I create lasting memories using a customer’s own family silver. That box of silverware sitting without purpose is now a treasured piece of jewelry that can be passed down through generations.
Working with customers on commissioned pieces gives me the most joy! In a small way I have participated in their family narrative.
How it all began …
As a young boy of 8, I sat and marveled at the tools my mother used in making simple sterling jewelry. “Don’t touch those tools” I was told. “They’re for my work”. Of course, this only made me want to use them more. Those tools survived and decades later I found “the box” while going through my mother’s things at her passing. That box was the only thing I wanted. The rediscovery of these tools is when my journey as a jeweler/artist began. Today I use these every day. One particular pliers that my mother used dating to the 1930’s, today touches 90% of what comes out of my studio.
Thank you, mom, for keeping those tools safe. I like to think you saved them for me.
I love what I do, and I am grateful when my art spreads joy …. Don Kelley
.
My days are spent sculpting sterling forks into elegant contemporary pieces of jewelry. When people express surprise that my art is derived from simple forks I just smile and take it as a compliment.
As an intuitive artist I mostly allow my hands to take the lead. However inspiration does come from other places including contemporary artists such as Kandinsky or the minimalism of a Picasso line drawing. I like reducing complicated ideas to a single powerful fluid line.
Commission work …
I create lasting memories using a customer’s own family silver. That box of silverware sitting without purpose is now a treasured piece of jewelry that can be passed down through generations.
Working with customers on commissioned pieces gives me the most joy! In a small way I have participated in their family narrative.
How it all began …
As a young boy of 8, I sat and marveled at the tools my mother used in making simple sterling jewelry. “Don’t touch those tools” I was told. “They’re for my work”. Of course, this only made me want to use them more. Those tools survived and decades later I found “the box” while going through my mother’s things at her passing. That box was the only thing I wanted. The rediscovery of these tools is when my journey as a jeweler/artist began. Today I use these every day. One particular pliers that my mother used dating to the 1930’s, today touches 90% of what comes out of my studio.
Thank you, mom, for keeping those tools safe. I like to think you saved them for me.
I love what I do, and I am grateful when my art spreads joy …. Don Kelley
.
