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Artist in the Spotlight… Lava Jewelry
March 2nd, 2008
The woman behind Lava Jewelry is ‘Chel Dodge. Read on and learn a little more about this multi talented artist.
How and when did the bead bug bite you? I remember playing with beads even as a very young child. I was obsessed with learning to do a peyote stitch with fishing line (which never worked out very well for me). My favorite books were the Laura Ingalls Wilder “Little House on the Prairie” series, and I remember a part where Laura and her pa found some glass beads left by Indians at an old campsite.
Laura and her older sister cherished the beads, and they felt that they were something special. I feel the same way.
Where do you get your inspirations for your designs from? I am inspired primarily by nature. I have a love of the outdoors, plants, birds, and geology. Sometimes a particular gemstone will inspire me; I’ll see the stone and I’ll instantly know what I need to make with it. Other inspiration comes from the shapes of trees, branches, leaf veins, flowers. To me, nothing manmade is more beautiful than nature, and if I can share just a tiny bit of what nature inspires in me, I feel I’ve been successful as an artist.
Is there one piece that you have done that is your favorite (or current
favorite)? I honestly don’t have a favorite, although I am more fond of some pieces than others. Usually, I’m fond of a piece because of a particular gemstone
in it, rather than because of my own work.
Do you work in any other art mediums? I do metal smithing, which can be seen at my other Etsy shop http://zbella.etsy.com. I also have a ton of artsy hobbies, including landscape and nature photography, watercolor painting, knitting, crocheting, and candle-making. (Sadly I haven’t had much time for my
hobbies lately.)
Do you have any special plans or goals for the future? Over the next five years or so, I see myself continuing to build my business. I have an idea for a new non-jewelry product line for this fall, which is still in the prototype stages. My background is in geology, so I would love to be able to get back into doing more geology. Finding a good balance between art and science in my life is my dream.
You can find more information about ‘Chel and her wonderful goodies at any one of the following links:
http://lava-jewelry.com
http://lavajewelry.etsy.com
http://cheldodge.net/blog
http://zbella.etsy.com
