Incorporating linocut into handmade silver jewelry allows for limitless creative potential. Whether it’s adding sculptural elements or pairing a design with gemstones like turquoise, the possibilities are endless.
With each piece, I strive to bring a blend of artistry, storytelling, and craftsmanship to the forefront—creating jewelry that speaks to the spirit of adventure and discovery.
Want to see an example of this technique? Check out the folk bird pendant with a beautiful aquamarine stone soldered on!
Here’s how I integrate this technique into my silver jewelry design process:
1. Carving the Linoleum or Rubber Block
The first step involves meticulously carving the desired design into a linoleum block. The beauty of this technique lies in its ability to capture intricate details. Inspired by themes of travel, adventure, and the natural world, I carve elements into either linoleum or rubber block using sharp carvers after carefully transferring my drawing. Each carving is its own work of art, and no two are exactly the same.
2. Pressing Metal Clay into the Linocut
Once the linoleum block is complete, I press metal clay—often fine silver clay—into the linocut design. This step transfers the intricate patterns from the carved linoleum to the clay. The soft, malleable nature of the clay captures every detail from the linocut, ensuring that even the smallest lines and textures come through in the final piece.
3. Adding Sculptural Elements
After the design has been transferred to the metal clay, I usually take things a step further by adding some sculpted elements. Using traditional sculpting techniques, I build up layers, textures, and details on the base design. For example, I might sculpt natural elements like leaves or flowers, adding dimension and depth to the jewelry piece. This part of the process brings a distinctive touch to each creation, elevating it from a simple impression to a fully realized piece of wearable art.
4. Firing and Finishing
Once the sculpting process is complete, I fire the piece in a kiln, where the metal clay hardens into solid silver. After firing, I clean, polish, and finish the jewelry, often adding gemstones such as turquoise, sapphires, and rubies to enhance the natural, earthy feel of the piece. The final product is a unique blend of texture, art, and craftsmanship.
From the initial carving to the final polished piece, linocut allows me to create jewelry that stands out—bold, adventurous, and full of intricate detail.