I became fond of metalsmithing accidentally, during graduate school. It was a multidisciplinary program and I initially set out to take ceramics courses, but all of my electives turned out to be metalsmithing and jewelry classes. I recall my surprise at how satisfying it was to fabricate, cast, carve and mold pieces into existence. All of the classes I took, however, were centered around working with Copper, Brass, and Bronze. I had yet to work with precious metals or precious/semi-precious stones.

My interest in fine jewelry and stone setting has only increased since graduating, so recently I signed up for a weekend goldsmithing workshop at the beautiful LiloVeve Jewelry studio in Williamsburg. It was there that I learned some of the basic nuances of working with gold, and where I set my first faceted stone, a natural diamond.

I derive a lot of pleasure from working with new materials, and although the resulting ring is relatively straightforward regarding aesthetics, It was an exciting challenge to create. Learning about new materials, techniques, and processes is, for me, the most fulfilling aspect of a multidisciplinary practice.