Get Started in Jewelry Design: These Books Will Show You How

The techniques of creating jewelry are pretty1990), covers the basics of designing jewelry with
simple, but the artistry involved requires anbeads and then presents detailed instructions for
understanding of design basics in order to bea variety of projects. The book also contains
successful. Taking a course in jewelry design at amany photos and descriptions of a multitude of
local art school or continuing ed program is great,beads and covers the process involved in creating
but if that's not possible, or if you want toearrings, bracelets, necklaces, and decorative
expand your understanding of jewelry designbrooches.More basic but a lot of fun, The Art of
beyond your instructor's approach, then one orMaking Jewelry, by Deborah Krupenia, Tammy
more of these books will give you a greatPowley, and Jessica Wrobel (Thunder Bay Press,
start.Author Elizabeth Olver takes both the2005), covers the tools and materials used in
subject of jewelry design and her readersjewelry making, including standard glass, metal,
seriously in her book The Art of Jewelry Design:and ceramic supplies as well as more unusual
From Idea to Reality (North Light Books, 2002).materials such as paper and papier mache. The
The book combines detailed hand-drawnbook offers specific instructions for a wide range
illustrations and dramatic full-color photographsof projects using a variety of techniques, and
with solid content covering essential design tools,profiles twenty well-known jewelry artists and
stages of the design process, the varioustheir work.Each book illustrates basic techniques
elements of jewelry design and creative conceptsbut then takes them into very different
involved in successful jewelry design. Creativedirections, resulting in a wide range of artistic
concepts, as defined by Olver and enumerated instyles that can act as inspiration to the fledgling
the book's table of contents, include "organic,jewelry designer. Each one individually offers a
geometric, abstract, figurative, narrative, symbolic,solid technical understanding of jewelry-making;
icons, fashion, fine, series," and "sculptural." Thistogether they provide an excellent introduction to
book will help you find your own unique style ofthe creative range available in this unique art
jewelry making based on a solid understanding ofform.Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living
design.If your taste in jewelry runs to beads, Thein southwestern New Hampshire. She has written
Book of Beads: A Practical and Inspirational Guidenumerous articles for local and regional
to Beads and Jewelry Making, by authors Janetnewspapers and for a number of Internet
Coles and Robert Budwig (Simon & Schuster,websites, including Tips and Topics.