Jama Watts
Lady in Red
Green Fringe Collar
Starburst Flower
Lebanon, KY
Website: http://www.jamawatts.com
Recurring themes in my work are texture and color, not what I think will sell to the public. That may be detrimental in the short run, but fun and funk are what drive me!
With my background in painting, usually with vivid colors straight from the tube, my jewelry designs tend to be bold, if not a little eclectic. In addition to this, I enjoy knowing that pieces are hand-made. When I purchase another artisan's piece, I like seeing the hammer marks or wire wrapping. It's like part of them was left in my jewelry. While I go for a finished, professional-looking piece, leaving that mark or part of me in my designs reminds the wearer that my hands made their piece.
I own and operate These Precious Things, a small art gallery also in Lebanon, Ky. I am active in shows with the Marion County Arts & Humanities Council and Lexington Art League, and am represented by several galleries throughout central Kentucky.
Image #1: "Lady in Red" - Woven seed beads in a spiral peyote with layers of fringe in shades of red, pink and gray. Red dyed freshwater pearls accent the longest layers.
Image #2: "Green Fringe Collar" - A plethora of fringe in shades of green with glass leaves and freshwater pearls make this a necklace fit for a queen.
Image #3: "Starburst Flower" - Hand-woven beaded chain with a hand-formed Precious Metal Clay flower set with an orange CZ.
