Artist Statement & Jewelry Making Process
Candice Kiesow, CC Designs Art & Jewelry
I began my journey as an artist working with earthenware clay. As a potter, I make functional and nonfunctional sculptural pieces. Later, in art school, I studied metalsmithing, printmaking and graphic art. I worked for ten years as a graphic designer, using a computer for layout & design. In 2000, I retired from my computer graphics job to search for a more meaningful, hands-on creative life.
That year, I discovered an entirely new way to work with silver, it was introduced to the art community in the United States by Mitsubishi Japan in 1994. Silver clay is a soft malleable substance that is made from pure silver or gold. It is comprised of three ingredients: pure silver or gold (much of which is recycled and cut into extremely fine particles) organic binder & water. It can be molded, textured, and shaped like traditional clay, when fired in a kiln to sinter it, the binder burns off and what is left is .999 fine silver, which can then be soldered like sterling silver sheet.
My jewelry involves traditional metalsmithing techniques, silver clay and lamp work beads. Working with silver clay, I create texture by carving plates with linoleum cutters, as I would in making a woodcut in printmaking, then using these texture plates, I can create texture on the moist silver clay. I also create polymer texture plates, often times creating images on my computer and use them with the moist clay as well. I can also carve the silver clay with carving tools when it is dry. Silver clay is perfect for fusing 24k gold in the ancient Keum-boo process and enameling as well. In working with this amazing new material, I can combine techniques I have used in printmaking, pottery and graphic design.
Four years ago, I began working with a torch and soft glass to make lamp work beads to add to my jewelry designs. The torch is another challenge for my artistic background, this time using colors as they interact in the flame.
My hope is to make my designs unique and to create a piece of art to wear and enjoy.