Sylvia McCollum

I love creating art that evokes feelings – in both the wearer and the viewer. The right piece of jewelry enhances a wearers sense of being special... unique. The piece and the person become intertwined, an intimate performance of mood and motion.

My jewelry begins in my mind. I visualize a stone that speaks to me and place it in a mental landscape of silver and gold. I twist and turn the elements until the hills & valleys, and the paths & ridges harmonize and flow into the space around. Setting the stones requires patience and care. Respect the nature of the stone, cradle it and yet let it sing. I often create complex hollow forms in which to set the stone. This maximizes the impact of negative space giving my pieces a sculptural feel. Metal and stone becoming one.

The best designs appear deceptively simple and clean. A result of painstaking devotion applied to creating a perfect result. This balance of craftsmanship and artistry transforms silver, gold and stone into a fluid interaction that tantalizes the mind, stirs one's emotion and tempts one to touch.