Original Fine Art Jewelry by D.C. Smith, Index Page

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I am a multi-medium jewelry artist and painter. I like experimenting with new and exciting mediums and find that the most satisfying part of my art is in the adventure of discovery. I am currently learning the art of oil colored scrimshaw and excited to be bringing that element into my designs starting next season.

NATURAL STONE: I do my own lapidary work. Some of the stones I use, I actually mine for stones myself in various areas across Missouri. Missouri is a wonderful location to find crystaline formations such as drusy quartz and geodes. It's so fun to pull something out of the ground and find it's "inner beauty"! I break the stone into manageable chunks, cut it into smaller chunks or slabs, then take it through 6 stages of grinding and then polish the stone. I use my rock tumbler for hardening metals and never polishing rocks! I know that's unusual. But I prefer a flat lap for polishing a stone. I get a more brilliant shine and it takes less time too!

DICHROIC GLASS: Dichroic glass is a kiln-fused glass medium that was invented by the Space Shuttle program. They were attempting to stabilize glass for the windows and windshield of the shuttle by subjecting glass to metal molecules. What they didn't anticipate was that these metal particles react with the silica and other metals in the glass. That is what causes the brilliantly sparkling colors and color shifts that make dichroic glass so amazing. They weren't able to use it for the shuttle, but invented a wonderful medium for artists to use and it is used in medical and other laser applications.
I like dichroic glass as a medium because the outcome is so unexpected and because it is very hard to duplicate. I love that each piece is an art-form in itself! I look forward to being able to open the kiln and find out how it's created itself. I can pattern it through a variety of experimental techniques (my own experiments), but it really is not controlable past a certain point. That makes it a very fun medium to work with.
My latest experiments with the dichroic glass include designs and images that I have created in layers that include Tree of Life designs, Bonzai Trees, Bamboo designs, and images based on the painter Monet. These are entirely my own concepts and as far as I have seen, completely unique techniques.
Each piece of dichroic glass is a one-of-a-kind creation. There will be color shifts and details that photography just won't effectively capture.

REAL LEAVES IN PRECIOUS METAL: These are real leaves that are layered in .999 fine silver or bronze and then kiln fired to capture a perfect impression of the leave. Some are finished with a stunning rainbow patina. Each is a "one of a kind" creation just as they are in nature! They are better done in the spring and summer while the leaves are fresh and green. So, I'm offering them at special pricing now! All pendants include plated 18” chain with lobster claw closure.

FINE SILVER AND BRONZE DESIGNS: These are made with the emphasis on the metal portion of the design and include many other fine materials such as pearls, cut stones, hand made beads and much more!

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PORCELAIN SCULPTURE: These pieces are from molds of sculptures done in mediums such as hard wax or clay that I've taken a mold of. Then I take a full-bodied porcelain clay and cast the mold. Then they are kiln-fired and I glaze them by hand. Some are embellished with various mediums such as ground rock powders. That gives them a little luminescence and irridescence. I love making the face sculptures I call Painted Ladies. No two turn out the same because when I pull them out of the mold, they always distort from the original sculpture.

NEW! JEWELRY MAKING SUPPLIES: Unusual hand-cut and polished natural stone, original porcelain sculpture, and my award winning fused "painted" dichroic glass cabochons for beading and jewelry artists of all kinds. These are top quality, completely original hand-crafted centerpieces that will add a new dimension to your own designs.

CUSTOM DESIGN ORDERS: I have created many custom design pieces around stones and shells that people have brought back from exotic vacations. I've also taken antique pieces and wire-sculpted/wire-wrapped around the original setting. That turns out really pretty! I can take almost any stone or shell and create a one-of-a-kind keepsake from it. Something you can wear and always remember the fun times you had or a special person or place.
One of the more unusual things I was given to work with was a leaf taken from a tree at Johan Sabastian Bach's gravesite in Germany! I layered the leaf in PMC Silver and set a stone on it and created a pendant. I have also taken a gun shell from the gun salutes at a Korean hero's funeral and created an engraved pendant for his nephew.
These designs can be created in solid precious metals, or wire-sculpture/wire-wrapped. If there is something you wish to have created into a one of a kind piece of jewelry, please contact me. You'll find a link at the bottom of the page.

I hope you enjoy the designs I've made. I have won awards for them!

New Lower Pricing! My suppliers are giving me new lower pricing on supplies, so I'm passing that on to you!