Artist Profile: Ellen Athens, Jeweler

Portrait of Ellen AthensPortrait 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

You can click on any image to see a larger version, and you can use the Left and Right arrows on your keyboard to move from one image to the next.

CLICK TO SEE Mixed metal earrings with jasper, and roll printed textures.

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Mixed metal earrings with jasper, and roll printed textures.

CLICK TO SEE Earrings with cloisonne enamel on fine silver are accented with moonstones.

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Earrings with cloisonne enamel on fine silver are accented with moonstones.

CLICK TO SEE This necklace features 3 of my lampworked glass beads along with natural stone beads.

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This necklace features 3 of my lampworked glass beads along with natural stone beads.

CLICK TO SEE Steps necklace has a micro knotted nylon pendant. Suspended below it is layered, textured sterling silver and carnelian.

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Steps necklace has a micro knotted nylon pendant. Suspended below it is layered, textured sterling silver and carnelian.

CLICK TO SEE Edge of the Sea Necklace

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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.

CLICK TO SEE Real geranium leaves were used to texture Precious Metal Clay into fine silver leaf forms for this necklace.

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Real geranium leaves were used to texture Precious Metal Clay into fine silver leaf forms for this necklace.

CLICK TO SEE  The Purple Geraniums pendant is cloisonne enamel on fine silver, set with an amethyst.

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The Purple Geraniums pendant is cloisonne enamel on fine silver, set with an amethyst.

CLICK TO SEE Embers necklace combines my lampworked glass beads with gemstones, glass and pearl beads.

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Embers necklace combines my lampworked glass beads with gemstones, glass and pearl beads.

CLICK TO SEE Textured earrings layer  copper, gold-fill and sterling silver.

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Textured earrings layer copper, gold-fill and sterling silver.

CLICK TO SEE One of my glass beads combines with stone and horn beads.

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One of my glass beads combines with stone and horn beads.

CLICK TO SEE 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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Rainbow Spirals is an example of how transparent enamels allow the roll printed textures of the base silver to show through the enamel layer.

CLICK TO SEE Micro knotting  blends with agate and a faceted garnet, and it is all suspended from freshwater pearls and citrine.

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Micro knotting blends with agate and a faceted garnet, and its all suspended from freshwater pearls and citrine.

CLICK TO SEE The shield form is made from layered,textured sterling silver, with flowing micro knotting.

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The shield form is made from layered,textured sterling silver, with flowing micro knotting.

CLICK TO SEE 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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The cloisonne enamel here is created on a copper base, allowing the rich earthy tones to show through. Carnelian is a great companion stone.

CLICK TO SEE Orange Geraniums pendant is cloisonne enamel on fine silver. The argentium sterling silver setting also uses a spectralite teardrop.

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Orange Geraniums pendant is cloisonne enamel on fine silver. The argentium sterling silver setting also uses a spectralite teardrop.

CLICK TO SEE Jaspers and turquoise combine wonderfully with the Southwest-inspired colors of this micro knotted necklace.

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Jaspers and turquoise combine wonderfully with the Southwest-inspired colors of this micro knotted necklace.

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