[Bianca]

Posted By: Bianca

Participant

Combine your love of the sea with the sparkle and magic of cloisonné enamel jewelry. In this 3-day workshop, you will learn the art of transparent enamel application on fine silver and how it can be used to illustrate marine life and ocean scenes. In addition, you will be introduced to mason stains and painting enamels to add textures that can bring your ocean creatures to life.

Prerequisites: Open to all skill levels

Darci Shea will give a free, public presentation/demo at Pratt Fine Arts Center on Sunday, October 29th at 6 PM.

Register Here: https://canvas.pratt.org/classes/5568

 

Artist Biography:

When I was a little girl I lived aboard a sailboat and traveled up and down Central and South America with my family. Through my travels, I was inspired by the culture, history, folklore, colors, and stunning beauty of the nautical world.  I would collect shells and sea glass that I would use to create earrings and necklaces and I would sell them to other sailors while we passed each other in port. These early experience in creating handcrafted goods was the spark that ignited my creative fire.

I studied children’s book illustration and metalsmithing at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia and cloisonné enameling from master enamellist Merry-Lee Rae in California. My education gave me the tools necessary to begin crafting handmade pieces of art that combine glass enamel and precious metals into vibrant designs that are timeless and visually narrative.
While I was honing my craft, I was also working as a licensed boat captain sailing both the East and West coast of the United States and staying connected with my nomadic upbringing. I worked on vessels 20-100ft long both in sailing and whale watching while on the weekends I would sell at craft shows my handmade enamel jewelry and accessories inspired by my experiences. I would see sunsets, whales breaching, waves crashing, and otters swimming and rush to my studio to include these elements in my designs. Now I create my Cloisonné products full time and continue sailing and traveling seeking inspiration for my next handmade piece.