Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Hansch.
Julie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve always wanted to create fun jewelry to mix and match with my outfits – I love to accessorize!!
I have a BFA from the University of North Texas; I always wanted to take the Jewelry and Metalwork studio class at school. The class materials were very expensive, so I had to pass on the class. I’ve always loved jewelry and clothing, and to this day, I still make small modifications to each article of clothing and accessory I wear to make it unique to my style.
Instead of buying jewelry to accessorize my outfits, I decided to start making my own by wire wrapping some semiprecious stones into funky and unique rings. I didn’t have a formal jewelry making experience or watch YouTube videos; instead, I created, broke down and then recreated different designs until I made something special.
Then my friends, family, and co-workers liked my rings and requested I make something unique just for them – or something for someone they love! From there, I started making earrings, bracelets, and pendants as well and started selling my jewelry at craft and art fairs, stores and on Etsy.
I use semi-precious stones that are higher quality than most and wrap each piece with silver-filled, silver-plated and copper wire. I keep my price points low without having to sacrifice quality and craftsmanship…it is more inspiring for me when people see my jewelry and know that they can afford to buy.
Now 27 years later, I was able to take some jewelry classes, and I learned to solder and hand wrap wire using the semi-precious stones I love so much. Every stone I choose I think about the color combinations and design I learned in art school and apply those techniques that make my pieces unique to each wearer – jewelry that is custom to each person in their style sense in color and design.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Before I started creating my own jewelry, I received a leather purse as a birthday gift from my step-daughter. She hand-tooled the bag with things I love – flowers, dragonflies, and butterflies – it is my most beautiful and treasured accessory. I very quickly fell in love with leathercrafting!
Materials and tools for leathercrafting can be expensive, so I wanted my leather goods to still be affordable. The labor that goes into leathercraft is truly a labor of love – the smell and texture of vegetable-tanned leather.
I hand draw each template, i.e., wallet, card case, and trace the pattern directly onto the leather. Then I cut the piece, then fold and bend each leather item.
My leather inspirations come from my step-daughter, Pinterest photos and just drawing templates for items from scratch. When a leather piece is finished, yet is not what I had intended to create, then I recreate the piece into something completely different – each one is truly unique.
I hope my work delights and inspires others to share their creations with the world!
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I think conditions for artists today can be both bad and good depending on the type of art they want to create. I also think that an artist today is not just someone who paints or draws, artists can also be digital, musical, literary, etc. so the idea of who an artist is has greatly expanded to include all creative types.
Larger cities, in general, have more artists in greater numbers and more opportunities to create and work as an artist. Within larger cities exist smaller communities that also encourage artists to create and discover what art means to them on a personal level.
In those opportunities in larger, urban areas of the country there are also more places and methods to teach younger generations about art and the theory of how art is reflected in our time period.
I think its a very exciting time to be an artist and social media is a great way to reach out and influence other artists.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The Art Annex
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Gift-Shop/THE-ART-ANNEX-144343659614178/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=277910832924126&id=144343659614178
- Phone: 214-453-9256
- Email: sparkypoptart@hotmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliehansch
- Facebook: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheJewelzbyJules
- Twitter: https://www.pinterest.com/JewelzbyJules/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/TheJewelzbyJules/
Image Credit:
Julie Hansch
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