Vanessa R Williams Contemporary Titanium Jewellery

 

In 2008 I completed a Bachelor of Fine Art at Queensland College of Art in Brisbane majoring in Jewellery and Small Objects. Whilst at QCA I was part of a small group who was offered a free weekend stall at the local Southbank Markets. This was an invaluable experience, as we were able to get immediate feedback from our work, and it reinforced the notion of Jewellery making as a sustainable career for me. After completing my degree I successfully applied to the JamFactory’s associate program and made the move to Adelaide. I also completed NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) a 12 month program focusing on small business management resulting in completion of a Certificate IV in Small Business Management. In 2011, I was given an Arts SA Grant for a mentorship with Julie Blyfield. This was a fantastic experience which helped to inform much of the work that I am making today.

 

My physical environment, the properties of the materials and processes I utilise are strong influences determining the outcome of my designs. My jewellery explores ideas and concepts related to simplicity, boldness and repetition of shape and form and relates to structural elements and forms found in architecture. I consciously make work with a minimum amount of waste in mind. I use strips of sterling silver and titanium making use of the significant contrasts of texture, colour and malleability. I enjoy exploring contrasting elements within the materials and the use of both matt and shiny surfaces of the titanium and silver. Silver when polished has a highly mirrored surface and the titanium when anodised is transformed from a dull grey into beautiful colours. The anodised colours I use are subtle and muted and reflect qualities of light and shadow. I use the light weight, innate strength, and springy nature of the titanium to create tension and movement with flowing strips of colour, which are reflected in the mirrored surface of the sterling silver. My current work Loop Series, have been refined from exhibition pieces into a production range which has been developing and continuously evolving, and as a result supply stock to galleries and retail spaces throughout Australia.

 

My work has developed gradually through my continual push to take the materials I love to their limit.