Friday, June 24, 2011

JET Interview - Art Made by Tammy


One of the things I love about making jewelry is that it is universal across all religious and cultural boundaries.  We, as artisans, do not need to focus on one specific culture in order to create something that will appeal to people all over the world.  Jewelry is a universal language that speaks clearly to anyone willing to listen.
For me, color is the language I am most fluent in.  I seem to have a knack, or maybe a stubborn determination, to be able to create pieces that are balanced, regardless of the materials used.  I truly enjoy finding the often elusive color balance.  When the perfect shades are found, the pieces just look "right", like these Antique Copper and Aqua Crystal earrings:




If the blue were a shade or two lighter, the crystals would appear washed out, and if they were a shade or two darker, they would detract from the beautiful tone of the copper.
As you can see in the wings of the butterfly below, solid colors are not one of my specialties.  Even on a piece as small as this, I will continue adding shade after shade until the piece finally "pops".




Regardless of the shade, a solid color in the wings of the butterfly just wouldn't look natural.
What was I thinking?
I decided one day that creating wearable art in glass jars would be really fun.  What better way to show off my artistic abilities than in a small glass jar, right?  Well, when I ordered my first batch of mini glass bottles, I thought to myself, I'm going to do this, and that, ooh, and that too.  When the bottles arrived in my workshop (empty of course) it hit me like a ton of bricks - these bottles are TINY!  What was I thinking?  Well it didn't take me too long to come up with some pretty cool (if I do say so myself) creations.  The Owl Necklace below is one that I believe shows off my color balancing ability as well:



Notice how the green plastic leaf brings out the faint greenish tint of the antique brass?  Even the hand-drawn tree contains multiple shades of brown to bring as much natural feeling as possible to the piece.

So there you have it.  A brief glimpse into the world of ArtMadeByTammy on Etsy.  Please take a look around my shop, and if for some reason you don't see what you're looking for, shoot me an email.  I love creating special orders.
And if you are looking for supplies to create your own artistic creations, stop by my supply shop at TammysTreasures on Etsy.
Have a Wonderful & Creative Day!
- Tammy

13 comments :

jemsbyjb said...

Great shop with a lovely owner behind it. Such unique and colorful pieces to cheer your day.

Tracy said...

Gorgeous and so unique! This shop has it all! Love the work here.

YourDailyJewelsBLOG said...

Everything is beautiful through and through, just like the artist herself.

DG Jewelry Designs said...

Beautiful jewelry in Tammy's shop. Be sure to visit.

Shazzabeth Creations said...

Love Tammy's shop. Especially love how she brings her artwork into her jewelry!

SendingLoveGallery said...

Tammy is so talented,and I just love her creations!

Beadsme said...

love Tammys store. And proud to be an owner of one of here beautiful necklaces.

Michele said...

Lovely shop such talent and the sweetest person ever!!!

Mollie Ann said...

What a wonderful mini-tutorial on color and balance! Tammy, I love your shop, and that little bottled owl is an absolute masterpiece. Thank you for this lovely glimpse into your delightful world!

cooljewelrydesign said...

The jewelry in this diverse shop is a reflection of its owner--fun, colorful, and what I call "poised whimsical!" (like that, Tams?)

Ida @ Adroit Jewelers said...

I enjoyed reading this post. Tammy's work is beautiful! She has a lot of talent!

Erika Price said...

Thank you for a lovely post, Tammy! I love both your shops, and my favorite pieces are your stunning butterflies - such beautiful colors! Erika Price Jewelry

Alan said...

Alright my vote is in! Good luck to everyone.

Alan Tippins Design