I'm a professional writer and artist. I live in the Pacific Northwest with my hubby and family. I come to jewelry making naturally. My maternal grandmother, Eva, taught millinery and could create anything for my fashionista mother or any of her clients. I use some of her wonderful antique or vintage components in som … Read more I'm a professional writer and artist. I live in the Pacific Northwest with my hubby and family.
I come to jewelry making naturally. My maternal grandmother, Eva, taught millinery and could create anything for my fashionista mother or any of her clients. I use some of her wonderful antique or vintage components in some of my most special jewelry. My paternal grandmother, too was an artist. She could needlepoint, knit, oil or china paint, or do anything with her hands, just like my father, who is also an artist and craftsman.
My husband was a major influence in bringing my interest to jewelry. Together, living in the Midwest while I completed my graduate degrees in English, we began working with polymer clay, eventually selling the boxes and jewelry we created together at a local gallery and boutique.
The day we moved to Portland, Oregon and drove up the Sylvan hill, passing the Oregon College of Art and Craft sign, I knew we were in the place we were supposed to be. In 1997, unable to find a college teaching position, I took up studies in metal work at OCAC in their open studio program.
Upon completion of all of OCAC’s basic metal courses, I continued creating Eva B Jewelry out of my fully equipped home studio, selling online and in galleries like White Bird Gallery at Cannon Beach, and at various markets like the Lake Oswego Millennium Market, and Portland Saturday Market. I’ve continued my education, studying in workshops with Chris Hentz of Chris’s Cables, Heidi Schwartz, Barbara Minor and others.
I create my pieces entirely by hand, creating my textures, and 3D shapes, from sheet and wire in various metal types.
My work is influenced by my surroundings. Although I am disabled with an incurable, untreatable disease, I love being outdoors, hiking or sailing. My work reflects these interests, as well as the layering of textures in the natural work. I experiment with everything from impresses, mixed metals like mokume gane, and fused metals. Much of the color in my work comes from gems, stones, patinas, enamel or experimentation with pure pigment or colored pencils.
With the increased price of precious metals, I mostly create work on a custom basis. I’m happy to create something from your drawing, or your words.