My Artistic Process

I don’t think I’ve ever fully explained the lengths I go to in order to create my art but I want to share the beautiful steps of creating - from scratch.

I think so much of the joy in creating is being in solitude, left to work with your hands and listen to your thoughts (with music, of course). As I am creating, I am lost in my own little world. A fairytale in itself as I write the story in my hands. One of the most satisfying parts is watching all of the colors and patterns slowly come together. To organize all your prizes, findings, and supplies together…imagining the millions of end results before even starting the process. I think it’s beautiful, to watch an idea grow and transform through the artist's process before finally settling on an end form.

Let’s start with what I consider step 0, which is collecting the treasures. All of the jewelry and art that I create and sell, always starts with a treasure, whether that be a mushroom, gemstone, shell, flower…etc and then I design around that.

For mushrooms, I tend to go on long walks and hikes with my partner and/or dog to forage for them. I’ve spent countless hours in the fields, digging around tree stumps, and walking through streams to find them. Once I’ve collected them, they need to dry in the sun for about a week in order to ensure no moisture is left. I will typically bake them on a low temp for a few hours after air drying for a few days as well. Mushrooms typically shrink in this stage, a surprising amount. Like any food or plant that becomes dehydrated- it shrivels, hardens, and becomes much smaller and more suitable to work with. Once they’ve been completely ridden of any moisture, I can begin encapsulating them in an environmentally safe epoxy alternative. (I use eco-poxy if anyone is interested in learning more about that!) In order to fully preserve the mushrooms’ shape, I will typically hang them from fishing wire in order for the epoxy to run off smoothly as they dry. It then takes an additional 3-5 days for me to apply a second coat and allow full drying time. In total, it takes about 12 full days of work from harvesting a mushroom until it is ready to be used in a piece of art. The process itself is therapeutic, it reminds me of gardening or painting. The process is slow, but smooth and soothing. I have also grown mushrooms for my art, mostly the pink and blue oysters I occasionally use. They are not only vibrant in color, but also in flavor. Growing a small batch allows the opportunity for new art and good meals.

I also use moss and flowers, which are found and preserved in the same ways. There is much more trial and error, however with moss and lichen. Their textures and colors change drastically as they dry, the rough textures take weird epoxy techniques. Everything that I use in my art, was called to me or I to it. When I am out foraging, I am extremely careful with the environment around me, and aware that not everything is just mine for the taking. I believe in only collecting in spaces where it is allowed, but also practicing the 1 of 3 rule. For example, if there is a clearing with three mushrooms, I will only take one from the bunch, if there are six, I may take two…but I never take a stand-alone or one from a pair. This goes for collecting anything from mushrooms, to flowers, rocks, and twigs. I believe Mother Nature allows us gifts when we offer all of our respect.

Although I do find a majority of the things I create with, I also buy some treasures. The times I have bought gemstones, fossils, and butterfly wings it has been from precious tiny local shops as I travel. My most recent memory, which may be one of my favorites, was when I was traveling in the Florida Keys with my mom and brother and stumbled across a tiny shack beside a gas station that read “rock store since 1900s”. I can’t say I have ever run into an establishment so quickly. The owner was a gem himself, a world war veteran and sweetheart of the century. He had opened the shop before the hurricanes and wars when his passion was biology, the walls were lined with magic. Dusty shelves and glass jars of all things imaginable. Box after box of stunning rocks. In the front case, he had a collection of Butterfly wings he had collected in China and brought back in a suitcase. There were two display cases of the most stunning Opal I had ever seen. I left with 4 butterfly wings, 2 opals, a head full of beautiful stories, and a huge smile plastered across my face.

Another one of my favorite moments was when I was traveling through Moab on a solo trip over to Colorado from Salt Lake City. When I was coming within an hour of the desert city, I passed a small building, almost invisible with dust and a lack of signage, but two words stuck out to me “GEODES” and “GEMSTONES” as I passed by, I immediately pulled over and did a U-turn for my now decided detour. As I pulled the door to the shop open, I was met with table after table of perfect gemstone cabochons. I spent hours sifting through the stones, deciding which ones were yelling loud enough at me to come home with me. I ended up walking away with over 10 stunning stones to use in my art. My heart felt full from the experience for days afterward.

I believe anything that is created by Mother Nature and then ethically put into my hands can be used within my art. I believe in supporting small and supporting local as much as I believe in finding my own materials.

Once my treasures are ready to be used in a piece of jewelry, then the creation stage begins. If my piece will be using sterling silver, I start by creating the bezel that will hold my piece in place first. I then build the entire piece from scratch, using a soldering gun and genuine sterling silver. It takes me around 3 hours to create the base of the piece and another 3-5 hours to complete the details and finishing touches. Once the silver part is finished, I am able to go back and start building around that. If I am making a complex beaded necklace to go with my pendant, the necklace alone can take roughly 5 hours of beadwork in addition to the silver work. Each piece of jewelry piece I make has a minimum of 15 hours worked on it, and days of additional drying and curing time. This really is the part that is “art”. Preparing my treasures for art is the therapy I get, but crafting the individual pieces of jewelry is what releases my artistic tension, what gives my heart a rush. Seeing a mushroom go from the grass to a huge, beaded festival worthy necklace fills me with accomplishment and happiness. Nothing brings me more joy than creating things that can be used or worn by others.

In a way, it completes the full circle for me. I was given this beautiful object by the universe, to turn into something new and beautiful for someone else after me to cherish.

Each piece that I make, is a small extension of who I am and also our universe. Every piece is filled with positive intention and a piece of history. I want everyone who wears a piece of my art to feel a little more interconnected with the natural world around them. I want my pieces to inspire you to stop and smell the roses. To be a reminder that we are all a part of one network of souls and love.