Artist Profile: Ellen Athens, Jeweler
Portrait of Ellen Athens by Larry Wagner
The Mendocino Coast has been my home since 1979, and it suits me well. I enjoy living where inspiration is right outside my door. Being in my garden is a fabulous way to see color combinations. Driving down the highway shows me the subtlety of the changing hues of sky and ocean. The trees that surround my home are a topography of texture.
In the past, I have worked in a variety of art mediums, predominantly tapestry weaving. My focus since the late 1990s has been jewelry. In my jewelry designs, I am able to work with color, form and texture in ways that are both two dimensional and sculptural. I enjoy creating mixed media jewelry, combining different elements and processes within a piece. These include metal embossing and fabrication, enameling, chain making, and micro knotted fiber miniatures.
Currently Showing: Ellen’s work is on display at Mendocino Jewelry Studio, 45104 Main St, Mendocino; Stanford Inn reception lobby, 44850 Comptche-Ukiah Road, Mendocino
Artist Web Site: www.MendocinoArtists.com
Artist Contact: athensdesigns@yahoo.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1386 • Mendocino, CA 95460
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Earrings with cloisonne enamel on fine silver are accented with moonstones.
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This necklace features 3 of my lampworked glass beads along with natural stone beads.
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Steps necklace has a micro knotted nylon pendant. Suspended below it is layered, textured sterling silver and carnelian.
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For Edge of the Sea necklace, I made molds from real shells and formed the pendant from fine silver Precious Metal Clay (PMC). Also used are some of my lampworked glass beads and a variety of pearls and stones.
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Real geranium leaves were used to texture Precious Metal Clay into fine silver leaf forms for this necklace.
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The Purple Geraniums pendant is cloisonne enamel on fine silver, set with an amethyst.
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Embers necklace combines my lampworked glass beads with gemstones, glass and pearl beads.
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Rainbow Spirals is an example of how transparent enamels allow the roll printed textures of the base silver to show through the enamel layer.
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Micro knotting blends with agate and a faceted garnet, and its all suspended from freshwater pearls and citrine.
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The shield form is made from layered,textured sterling silver, with flowing micro knotting.
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The cloisonne enamel here is created on a copper base, allowing the rich earthy tones to show through. Carnelian is a great companion stone.
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Orange Geraniums pendant is cloisonne enamel on fine silver. The argentium sterling silver setting also uses a spectralite teardrop.
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Jaspers and turquoise combine wonderfully with the Southwest-inspired colors of this micro knotted necklace.
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