Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Brock.
Dana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I love to create things. If I could do it all day long every day, I would. There’s a soul-deep connection in the work you do with your hands.
Handcrafting has been a part of me since I was young, and I’ve created a lot of different things over the years. But, jewelry making has captured me.
I worked in the accounting field part-time while my son was in high school, then full-time after he graduated. Looking for a creative balance, I began taking jewelry classes. Hooked on the processes, jewelry making became my creative passion in my off hours. I am self-taught in some areas, class taught in others. I started designing jewelry, opened my business, D’zyn By Dana; and seventeen years later am still completely in love with the art of making jewelry.
I had a great pleasure, six years ago, of joining forces with a wonderful jewelry designer, Judy Darrow. Combining our interests in jewelry making and teaching, we opened a shop on the square in downtown Mckinney (originally known as Art On The Veranda) now known as Three Frog Alley. We are a jewelry shop and studio, where we sell our individual designs along with jewelry and creations of ten other artists. We are actually two businesses in one. Housed in our same building and sharing space is LAST Art Gallery, owned by Gail Delger. And there you have the ‘three frogs’: Judy, Gail, and Dana!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not always. You know those creative juices don’t always flow, even when you are doing something you love. I came to a stretch where I just couldn’t come up with a single creative idea. So, I decided to step back and try a different creative expression. I took a painting class. I wanted to approach shapes and color from a different perspective. I wanted to just let go and create and hoped that it might ‘jump start’ my creativity in jewelry design. I had taken a few art courses in college but had not worked much in acrylics. That was eight years ago, and I am still hopelessly in love with the art of painting. Jewelry and painting are my perfect mix. They each entice, encourage and challenge the other, always spurring each other on. So, now my weeks are a mix of both my loves.
Please tell us about D’zyn By Dana.
As a designer, I work in a variety of mediums, but I specialize in metalsmithing and precious metal clay. I am a Senior Certified Instructor in Art Clay and Level 3 Certified in Precious Metal Clay. Metal clay is a medium consisting of particles of silver, gold or other base metals held together by an organic binder and water, that once sculpted, refined and fired becomes a pure piece of that metal. In the case of silver, pure fine silver. It’s amazing to work with.
I also love the many techniques in metalsmithing. Hand forging (the process of heating metal and shaping by hand) and hand piercing and sawing metal. I have a mix of hand forging, piercing and sawing in two of my design collections: CrossWords Jewelry and Wabi Collection.
I am drawn to organic and free-form design, the freedom to let go and create in a natural, organic and imperfect way. Hence, the ‘Wabi Collection’ – “Embracing the Art of Imperfection’. None of the pieces are perfectly made. Each is hand cut, shaped and naturally created. Some are delicate and elegant. Others are uneven, opposites or upside down of each other. And, a few have a raw, earthy appeal.
It’s been an amazing journey so far. I love the processes involved in creating, whether it’s jewelry design or painting. I love the interaction with other artist and people who come to our shop. We really are a unique shop. Between Three Frog Alley and LAST Art Gallery, we have an amazing mix of forty or more local artists: jewelry, paintings, pottery, paper mache, repurposed objects, and glass.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have taken more creative and art classes in school, and as an artist and designer, I would have experimented more, early on. Trust my instincts. Break the rules. Why not! Some of my favorite jewelry pieces and paintings are the result of letting go of the rules, trying something you think won’t work, and seeing where it goes.
Contact Info:
- Address: Three Frog Alley
105 W. Louisiana
McKinney, TX 75069 - Website: www.dzynbydana.com
- Email: dzynbydana@sbcglobal.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dzynbydana/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dzynbydana/
- Other: www.etsy.com/shop/dzynbyd
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
