Suzanne Anderson

The natural, the terrible, the fantastical; on making mixed media jewelry I like to listen to what the piece requires of me and keep pushing for something beyond what I thought possible. Jewelry creation is a wonderful opportunity to work in a collage-like way and respond to what is happening in the piece as I work on it. My background is in painting and graphic design but I have always been deeply interested in jewelry design and body ornamentation My main influence comes from nature but also I have been touched by the ridiculous in politics and the strange and wonderfulness in the world. I create pieces that come from looking at things or events that are beautiful and things that are terrible. From wars and catastrophe to the wonder, beauty and tenaciousness of nature. Polymer clay is the perfect vehicle for my purposes and has worked well with the other materials that I use. The creative process for me is very organic and the clay’s versatility lends itself to many forms. Sterling silver and metal work create a foundation and structure for the pieces. The addition of fiber (wool) adds a contrasting softness. The beads in this jewelry are small objects of art, consisting of colored clay (no paint is used) caned in the tradition of millefiori glass, formed and expertly cured. In addition, I have begun creating limited edition Picture Pendants. These pendants portray tiny images of animals, art and vintage nostalgia transferred permanently onto clay. Each piece is hand sanded and buffed to a smooth soft sheen. The result is durable,waterproof, smooth to the touch and rich in color. Sterling silver bezels, ear wires, clasps and hoops are created individually to accent each piece. Occasional buffing with a soft cloth will restore luster to the beads and pendants.