Beautifully Imperfect | Annie's Arts and Follies

I have always been a collector of unusual and unique things.

I started college working toward a BFA in Drawing. One rough and unsuccessful Figure Drawing class later (100% my own fault), and I found myself taking an intro jewelry class "for a laugh". As you can see, the rest is history. I found 'drawing' with metal to be far more exciting. There is a process. Steps must be followed lest disaster happen. Yet, what seems like rigid rules, are actually quite forgiving when directed a certain way. This is what keeps me coming back to the bench day after day. Not just the fun of digging through sometimes forgotten drawers for unique findings, but the process which marries creativity and science.

While we often think of shiny, very specific molecule type arrangements when thinking of science, I prefer to take the more organic approach in appearance. I long for evidence of hand in my work. I want the wearer to know that their piece was made by a person, and not in a factory. I admire the small imperfections and feel my pieces mimic nature in that way. From afar the honeycomb looks to be mathematically accurate, but upon further inspection, it's a wee bit off. The flower petals are not symmetrical. The leaf has spots of dirt. The perfection of imperfection in my environment inspires me to rework that which may be so gentle outside, with a solid and sometimes difficult material inside.

Metal can be seen as being unforgiving, yet it is a very malleable material to work with. The seemingly harsh climates of Alaska could be seen the same way.

I am inspired by my gardens and the insects that buzz around to make them bountiful.

I am still in awe of the beauty of the "weeds" and wildflowers that grow even on the city sidewalks, and love to hide in the studio, playing with the inspirational tiny things in tiny drawers, and finding ways to make the outside wearable.

Fireweed