Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Potter.
Nicole, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am an artist by trade, and I started selling my artwork at age 13. In college at TCU, I did a ton of sculpture and ceramics classes, while I got my degree in Pre-Columbian Art History. Once I got out of school, I started making jewelry for myself. I was tired of seeing all my friends in the same things, and also things which were in no way interesting. So, I started to play around with jewelry and took my sculpture and art backgrounds and started to make jewelry or kinda mini pieces of art. I was having a painting show and was asked to bring several of my jewelry pieces as well. I ended up selling everything I made and that’s how Betty James was born. Named after my maternal grandparents, I strive to make each piece wearable art.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When starting out, I had no idea what I was doing. I basically just made it up as I went and just kept making prototypes until I found out how to make strong pieces of jewelry. Also, no one in the industry wanted to give me any help or direction, it took me forever just to figure out where to buy beads in Dallas. I found it odd on how secretive people were about their sources, especially for things as simple as a string. When all of this is going on, I also have no idea how to run a business and didn’t have much start-up money. I taught myself how to photograph jewelry and how to build a website, all just in an attempt to cut costs. Creativity has never been my issue, but you can’t make money being creative if you don’t understand business and that something I still struggle with today. I so wish in college, I had taken more business classes or even that art departments taught you how to market yourself and make money off the thing you love, if only so you can keep doing it.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Betty James’ motto is “Wear Art” which is what I consider each piece of jewelry I make. Whether I’m sculpting a wax model of an item to be cast or collaging beads and suede together to make a necklace the process is the same and is strongly rooted in my art background. Personally, I don’t like to dress like everyone else and I want to be unique in my appearance. I strive to not make my designs unique yet accessible. People often when they are looking at my paintings ask me what the piece means to me or what emotion I was seeking to express, and my answer is always the same. I tell them that it’s not important what I was thinking or feeling, it’s how the piece makes them feel. I want every person who wears my designs to feel special and unique in their own way, and I hope my designs help them to achieve their own interpretation of style and expression. I’m probably best known for the sometimes strange combinations of elements I use to create a homogeneous composition. I gather elements from all over the world and mix and match until a whole new look is created. The thing that sets me apart the most from others is that I don’t design for the trends. I design what I think is interesting. This sometimes means that my look is less appealing to some, but I would rather create a unique style then just to design for the current trend.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Having my designs shown at New York Fashion Week several years ago. I was the only jewelry designer in the show and I was able to showcase my designs in such a unique way, ill never forget that experience.
Pricing:
- Necklaces- $95-$400
- Earrings- $50-$200
- Bracelets- $18-$300
Contact Info:
- Address: 3830 Caruth Blvd
Dallas, TX 75225 - Website: www.bettyjames.com
- Phone: 2142265188
- Email: nicole@bettyjames.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bettyjamesjewelry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bettyjamesjewelry/
NYFW-SS17
Image Credit:
Marshall Cox for all images but # 001 (third photo from top)- credit to Teevon Tee
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