If you had asked Jodie over 20 years ago when she made her first lost wax cast if she had a future making jewelry, she would have given an emphatic "no." Not someone to give in to a challenge, she became intrigued by a material that did not yield instant gratification. Through years of practice, trial and error, she eventually found love for the organic nature of metals. She began making jewelry and reading everything she could about metalworking; learning stringing techniques, chainmaille patterns, and cold connections; which led to a formal metalsmithing class. She then took a metal clay class and became hooked on the medium. She obtained a Level 1 Art Clay Certification in 2012.
Jodie enjoys making wearable art and creating pieces that bring happiness to the wearer. She cannot remember a time when she was not creating, and she has strong background in several different mediums, but is partial to sculpture and feels that metal clay provides a perfect marriage between metals and sculpture. She has a B.A. in Art History and Fine Art. Her thesis focused on art jewelry and the wearable art movement. She believes that the root of making begins first with a solid knowledge of materials, followed by possibilities. She lives in Chicago with her significant other and two very spoiled cats. |
