Jennifer Jordan Park: updated cloisonné

As enamel jewelry takes off as soon as extra, a model new know-how of artists and collectors are discovering, experimenting, and reinventing. Many types of enameling are displaying up at juried reveals immediately, nonetheless the sort largely recognized is cloisonné. That’s Jennifer Jordan Park’s specialty.

“People acknowledge the phrase partitioned,” says Jennifer Park who makes enamel paintings jewelry in her New Jersey studio. “It’s the first search time interval for my jewelry, although half the outcomes that come up for cloisonné shouldn’t cloisonné the least bit.”

Jennifer not solely is conscious of her strategy spherical enamel, she may also be a proficient goldsmith with a singular methodology to design – as you may even see by her “Streaming Turqoise” pin/pendant.

On this piece that nabbed first place for enamels in ultimate yr’s Saul Bell Awards, Jennifer created a stream of enamel that seems to flow into correct by the use of the black vein of a turquoise island. “Usually I design the enamel first, the stones come after,” she says. “Nevertheless this stone was truly cool – I cherished all the veins in it – so it grew to grow to be a leaping off stage for the design.”

“People who like enameling truly desire it. Whilst you see it particularly particular person, cloisonné enamel has great luminescence and depth.”

Within the occasion you assume that’s the one enamel on this piece, look nearer. Jennifer drew further consideration to the black vein by setting the stone in a sea of black enamel that makes the high-karat gold inlay, physique, and granulation pop. Black enamel has change into a signature part of her work. “I actually like the easiest way the opaque, matte black seems to be like with the shiny, clear cloisonné. It’s a nice distinction and creates numerous depth.”

Most people don’t acknowledge the black half as enamel. I assumed it was onyx at first. At reveals, many ask if it’s rubber or resin. Part of the issue of working with enamel is making a market for jewelry the place the centerpiece should not be gem nonetheless glass – usually not even identifiable at a glance – and however requires a considerable period of time and expertise.

Typically, enamel jewelry attracts a passionate group of collectors who love coloration and texture and admire the old-world methodology that goes into it.

Cloisonné dates to historic events when this methodology superior right into a proficient kind of workmanship. The enamel elements require numerous firings, going in and out of the kiln. “With cloisonné, you’re wet-packing the enamel with a brush, nonetheless there are a variety of strategies to make use of enamel,” Jennifer says. “You might paint with it, grind it truly very good, mix it in a medium, sift it.” Like most jewelry artists who produce enamel jewelry, cloisonné is Park’s main methodology, although she experiments with differing types as properly.

These earrings are my very personal, from Jennifer’s handmade nonetheless further accessible sterling silver line. I cherished that inexperienced and the hint of Home Age kind. There’s one thing so vibrant and distinctive regarding the coloration you could get with enamel, and part of that is the strategy gentle shows off the textured silver beneath. For enamel artists like Jennifer, that metal base is rather like the canvas they paint on, and they also put collectively their canvas rigorously. There are infinite strategies in order so as to add pattern and texture and make it look uniquely your private.

Jennifer makes use of the rolling mill for almost all her texturing, usually rolling annealed very good silver with brass or metallic texture plates. She then evenly torches the textured silver to make it shimmer. “Texturing is an important part of the tactic on account of it camouflages flaws inside the metal and supplies loads seen curiosity,” she says.

She loves the drawing facet of cloisonné along with the color. “The strains may also help you define the color, nonetheless it’s the color that’s truly seductive,” she says. “People who like enameling truly desire it. Whilst you see it particularly particular person, cloisonné enamel has great luminescence and depth.”

Jennifer Park makes use of a weblog on her site to interrupt down her enameling methodology. Whereas this started out as a strategy to help school college students who take her workshops – positive, she teaches! – it’s turned into a helpful gizmo for educating prospects as properly. When the price of your jewelry lies further in time and craftsmanship than treasured provides, educating your viewers is important.

“The frequent specific particular person goes to buy a diamond or a pearl sooner than they’re going to buy enamel,” Park says. “Usually I get pissed off trying to show people, nonetheless enamels are in order that cool.” She laughs. “I can’t do something!”

Uncover further by Jennifer on her site Placed on Ever Jewelry and observe her on Instagram.

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