Booth 702
(See map below)
About the Artist
To begin working on a large necklace I first select the stones that I will use. I am looking for color shape and size which will adjust as I work with them with the metal. I then place them on a piece of white paper and move them until I find a happy medium of positive and negative spaces. Then I begin to draw trying different designs until I feel comfortable with what I’m doing. I begin by making the bezels for the stones by using sheet copper and solder the bezels in place using an oxygen-acetylene torch. After cutting out the shapes I fuse silver around the bezels. Next, I construct the frames for the stones using bronze rods and welding each in place. Following that I Sauter the stones in place and add the connecting mechanisms. When this is finished, I placed the piece in acid, muriatic acid in the water, to clean it and then into patinas to darken the metal. Following that the piece will go into a large tumbler using steel shot to polish the surface. After removing the piece from the shot are use small tools with a Fordham shaft to highlight and polish some areas. I apply a plastic “ lacquer” to preserve the surface. When I am happy with the finish on the necklace I set the stones. Lives and works in Scott, LA.
