Spotlight on Suzanne
Exceptional Education & Mentors Made Me Mature
What do I want to be when I grow up? As I look backward and forward, I can say with certainty that I always have taken my grown-up artistic life into my own hands. In Kansas, my creativity was born and fully matured in the fiber art world – I became a master quilt maker. In Arizona, gemstones were the inspiration that changed the course of my creativity as I became mesmerized by the multitude of colors, textures and shapes on display at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show – I became a creator of handmade fine art jewelry.
I am inspired by the natural shape, colors, vein patterns and luster of the stones I select and set. The oval shape of this Southwestern turquoise (top left) will be the focal point of an upcoming design. The black knight drusy -used as both accents and centerpieces and shown here as earrings in the making and three sparkling loose shapes – are favorite stones because of the way they catch and reflect light. Purple and black are an exotic combination in these four Charotie stones from Russia.
In 2007, I set out on an educational path to master as much about gems and metalworking as I could and studied with such in-state and out-of-state notables as April Bower (jewelry with a subtle Asian nuance), Cynthia Eid (jewelry and hollowware designer), Susan Katzmer (industrial chic jewelry), Carl Stanley, (jewelry fabrication), Michael David Sturlin (goldsmith) and Carol Webb (contemporary art jewelry). I appreciate these artist instructors who shared their time and talents with me as I acquired the skills that define my design vision that focuses on setting natural organic shaped stones into the clean lines of sheet metal of all kinds – gold, silver, copper brass, and even iron – either singularly or in combination. Take time to take a look.
Silver Moonlight
Mentors have played a key part in my maturation process, and as Labor Day approaches, I acknowledge their labor of love that has significantly contributed to my second artistic success. I was first and foremost influenced by my close friend and mentor, James Corrigan, a master jewelry artisan and metalsmith who also owned a jewelry retail store in Chicago. Always appreciated for his craftsmanship, customer service and sales, James has retired from retail, but participates in art showings in Gold Canyon, AZ where he now lives, creates exceptional wearable work and pursues a range of artistic mediums.
When talking about the importance of mentoring, the American author and businessman Zig Ziglar couldn’t have said it any better – ‘A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.’
I sense the truth in this as my long-time relationship with my mentor Tonya Davidson, Helping Entrepreneurs Soar has been such an important factor in my day-to-day. I’m a working artist and she has provided insight in countless ways that has helped develop and improve my business. To facilitate sales, Tonya advised and supported the recent new addition to my website: the online Marketplace Metropolis that was featured in the August 14 Spotlight on Suzanne. She recommended that I share more information about Suzanne Brown Jewelry with you and visitors to my website by sending out and posting newsletters like this more often.
This Red Jasper Heart Pendant is a visual expression of my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Tonya Davidson. As my mentor, she has been a friend and steadfast guide – motivating me to press on, to negotiate the many moving parts connected with doing business and to take the steps that are successfully advancing and expanding my career.
Through the expertise, experience and encouragement from mentors and my own innate love of creating as well as perseverance and dedication to detail, I have matured into an established creator of handmade fine art jewelry and an effective businessperson. In turn, I encourage you to find a mentor; follow a mentor; be a mentor!