2018 • Sculpture • Metal
This body of work investigates traditional jewelry fabrication methods through systematic skill development. Piercing employs jeweler's saws with fine blades to cut intricate patterns from sheet metal, requiring precise control and attention to grain direction. Soldering joins metal elements using silver solder and torch techniques, with flux preventing oxidation and promoting capillary flow. Forming transforms flat sheet into three-dimensional shapes through hammering, dapping, and stake work, with annealing cycles relieving work-hardening stress. Stone setting secures gemstones through bezel construction, where thin metal walls are burnished over stone edges to create secure mounts. Each piece focuses on specific technical challenges, from achieving clean solder joins to creating properly proportioned bezels for various stone cuts. 
