Theresa Clements

Ever since I was a child I loved creating, whether it be painting, drawing, building, or sculpting; however, I never expected my art to take me in the direction of jewelry design. Art and nature have always my inspiration and escape from the rather hectic world, and now my multiple chronic illnesses. When I am not in my studio I am usually working on several pieces at the same time, I am outside with my dog enjoying the beauty and peace of nature.

My interest in jewelry did not begin until my multiple chronic illnesses caused me to become disabled. The corporate career that I worked so hard for was over and I had to pick up the pieces to what I thought my life was going to be. Metalsmithing helped me during this transition, which has allowed me to navigate through the grief of losing my old self and life. I became passionate about my work and fell in love with the techniques and processes of this important craft.

My art is an attempt to explore the relationships between various color harmonies and surface textures. For inspiration, I look at colors, textures, and movement within my surroundings in nature. This also offers me the opportunity to experiment through my choice of materials. Every piece is made to standout, and meant to encourage, uplift, and build confidence.

My loss fiercely grounds my work. We all have stories to tell…we all have hard stuff. You can hide it or choose to share it with others. That is one of the reasons I do this-to connect with people, share my story, and hope that my path to jewelry making can be an example of what happens when you open yourself up to being led in spite of your grief and drastic life changes.