Author - Sylvaine Frouin

Bespoke #2 – A unique Locket

This locket was a commission holding many secrets. The customer wrote down some anecdotes that had special meanings in her life, she wanted to have a locket made especially for her. It would hold pictures of her children with family members’ names and dates on the inside. I first did sketches with the shape of the locket I had in mind and a couple of illustrations translating her stories, these would be engraved on either side so the pendant would be reversible.

I enjoyed designing and making this piece very much because of the story hidden behind every aspect of the design. It is a very special experience to create a piece for someone who shared glimpses of her intimate life for me to translate into a unique piece.

This design is completely unique and handmade from scratch in sterling silver. Discover every step of the making process below.

#jewellerymaking #stepbystepjewellerymaking #jewellerymakingprocess #bespokejewellery #custommadejewelry #handmadesilverlocket

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In my sketchbooks #3 GOUACHE

These days my drawing desk is filled with miniature gouache paintings, jewellery renderings. Some paintings are imaginary pieces that will probably never come to life, some are projects for @imaginarium atelier. It’s way to develop the rough pencil drawings scattered in my sketchbooks.

I feel lucky to still have access to my jewellery bench and being able to carry on working on a few commissions. Back home, I felt the need to go back to one of my unfinished projects. I decided to dig for those jewellery rendering sketchbook and keep creating. This project is kind of meditative because it requires all my attention.

It’s a nice challenge to try and reproduce the materials I work with at my jewellery bench. But mostly, it’s a way to dream bigger and open designs possibilities without the constraint of time and cost of material. All I need is a few sheets of grey or black paper, a dozen of gouache tubes and a couple of tiny brushes.

Browse pictures in "Mini Gouache Paintings" section
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In my sketchbook #2 CHARCOAL


Forest Goddess portrait, pendant available on Imaginarium Atelier Webshop

Last year, I re-discovered charcoal drawing. I was drawn to create bigger to break with the tiny scale I usually work with at the bench. Charcoal is a bit of a messy technique but what I like about is that no lines are definitive. The image is in a constant movement, it evolves progressively.


Green Man sketches, see the 2 brooches miniature painting on Instagram
(Sketch A, Sketch B)

I focus first on the composition, then it’s a play with light and shadows to bring life and depth to the drawing. The rubber is constantly in use to bring back the light or adjust the lines that define the contours. I enjoy the room for mistakes and the progressive improvement of the image, The result is always different from what I had in mind but it’s part of the game!


Discover the step-by-step progress: follow this Instagram link

Discover the step-by-step progress: follow this Instagram link

 

I recently created a new page on Instagram dedicated to my sketchbooks, follow it to discover new pages regularly: https://www.instagram.com/sylvaine.sketchbooks/

 

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In my sketchbooks #1

At
the heart of my creative practice are my sketchbooks, I collect them
since 2005.

My
first sketchbook was more like scrapbooking, a way to gather
drawings, small paintings, photos… I did the bookbinding and the
cover. I enjoyed the process so much that I decided to keep going.
About one small sketchbook per year, Always messy and colourful. Even
if they were private, when filling them, I had the finished object in
the back of my mind, which had to be cohesive and pleasing to look
through. These small books are like time capsules, looking through
them can take me back to very precise moments in the past.

My
relation to those sketchbooks evolved through the years. I started to
buy them instead of making them. I would do mostly pencil sketches,
quick watercolour illustrations, ideas for pieces of jewellery along
with notes about the making process.

For the past few years, I use larger size sketchbooks, with spiral binding as they are comfortable to hold. These are cheap so it enables me to feel totally free and use as many pages as I feel like. I became more prolific, I probably used a dozen in the past 2 or 3 years. They became less precious and mostly a way to process ideas, thoughts… Less pleasant to look through but the feeling of freedom when using them is bigger. They are mostly filled with very quick pencil or ink sketches, a few landscapes, some personal texts and quotes, they are still very messy (like me!) . Some pages have a calm and minimalistic look, others are more expressive doodles. By allowing myself and letting it all out, I discover recurrent ideas coming back and these are the ones that will eventually become something: a more polished drawing, an illustration, a painting or most of the time, a piece of jewellery. I keep a few sketchbooks at the same time: one by my workbench, 1 or 2 at home, a small size one in my handbag. It looks like I became rather addicted to them! These books became a way to process emotions and maybe a tool to access the subconscious mind because of the freedom they offer.

I recently created a new page on Instagram dedicated to my sketchbooks, follow it to discover new pages regularly: https://www.instagram.com/sylvaine.sketchbooks/

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Back to the roots

Strange days…

This crisis comes with its own set of challenges, big or small, different for each and every one of us. It makes us feel smaller and more vulnerable but it also forces us to look at things from a different perspective. We go back to the essential. Like trees, in appearance isolated from each others, but below the surface, it’s a complex underground network, trees share water and nutrients through this networks, and also use them to communicate…

For the past few days, I see artists of all kinds reaching out online, thinking of creative ways to go through the difficult times. All of us, artists or not, will need to use creativity in many different ways to adapt to our current daily lives. The act of creating “something” (whatever it may be) is a fulfilling experience and can have a ripple effect on other areas of life. However, the creative practice can be hard to get into at first, on a regular basis when you start to work on something new or simply when in the wrong mindset.

I am inspired by nature and tales but not only, seeing artists developing their own ideas and skills is like a journey through their minds. “Imagination at work” is for me a great source of inspiration.

I’d like to start sharing more of my creative process, work in progress, along with my inspirations, thoughts, and quotes on creating as a therapeutic exercise. In my own minuscule way, I want to highlight that the important thing in Art is the process that brings joy to the artist, after all, it is the reason why a piece of art comes to life. It will be a good reminder to help my own creativity flow and I hope I can inspire some of you, maybe give a push to some people who might be thinking of trying something new.

Keep dreaming, keep creating if you can, especially in the tough times, as it can be such a boost and it’s good for the soul!

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London Desire Jewellery & Silversmithing Fair. 28 February-1 March 2020

Imaginarium Atelier will be exhibiting at the Desire Jewellery & Silversmithing Fair, Chelsea from 28 February – 1 March (see below for full details).

A Private View will take place on Thursday 27 February (4.30-8 pm) and we’d love to see you there! An invite can be downloaded via the following link: http://bit.ly/311VXbu

If you are unable to attend the Private View, this will also give you £1 off the admission during public opening times for two adults.

Don’t miss this opportunity to view and purchase work from around 100 of the UK’s finest designer-makers.  Visit website

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Come And Visit The Jewellery Workshop!

Artists Open Houses / Brighton & Hove


Brighton May Festival is coming and we will soon be opening  The Jewellery Workshop to the public.

You are invited to our Private view next friday 3rd May from 6pm and we welcome you during the four weekends in May from 11am to 5pm.

Discover our new pieces made in collaboration by with Marek Machlowski. Also on display, jewellery collections by Lizzie Kershaw and Ewa Klupczewska.

More info :
https://aoh.org.uk/house/may2019/the-jewellery-workshop-5/

More info :
https://aoh.org.uk/house/may2019/the-jewellery-workshop-5/

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Ordering bespoke jewellery / Special Gift / Commission process

Do you love wearing unique jewellery that no one else owns? Does jewellery hold a deeper meaning or sentimental value for you?

 If you are considering having a Bespoke piece made then how about getting in touch and visit me in my workshop for a chat? I’m based in Brighton (UK) but you don’t have to be!  If you can’t make it in person then email exchanges or a telephone conversation work absolutely fine…

I love working one-on-one with my clients to create the “perfect” piece of jewellery. It’s all about combining your personality with my vision and bringing to life a piece that tells your story and compliments your personal style.

My desire is to create something you will really cherish. My style influences come from art, illustration, nature… I like to create jewellery by playing with lots of different techniques, textures and colours. When I am designing a piece for you, all these elements inspire me, however, it’s really you that I am focusing on. It’s very much a collaborative process. 

You are considering ordering a bespoke piece and you are not sure where to start?

The following guide will help you imagine a brief so I can create the perfect gift for you or your loved one:

The story

First of all you need to decide of a theme or the story you want to tell. I can work from an anecdote, a shape, a stone, an animal, a passion,  a country, a season… The origins of a design can be virtually anything ! Think about the person’s personality, lifestyle, hobbies, career, interest, inspirations, taste, fashion style, colours…  You can provide any images that inspire you.

A PIECE OF JEWELLERY? AN OBJECT? OR BOTH?

I’m trained and experienced as a jeweller, I create rings of all kinds, wedding bands, engagement rings*, pendants, bracelets and much more. I also love to work on small scale objects/sculptures, such as keepsake boxes* made of wood and silver, I have also made fun silver spoons* for christening presents… I like challenging work and I’m always open to creating something unusual!

A few years ago, I started making what I called “Jewel-objets” *. They make perfect presents, as they can really tell any stories! They combines three disciplines: jewellery, illustration and woodwork. The idea is to give life to a jewel when nobody is wearing it, the jewel can fit in a painted wooden scuplpture  and it becomes the heart of a colourful world or the missing fragment of the story.

GEMSTONES

There are so many beautiful gemstones available, each with their own unique story. She/He might have a favourite colour ? you can chose her/his birthstone? You could combine a few stones to represent each  members of a family?

RECYCLING

Think outside the box!  I can use a small sentimental object or element by mounting it into a piece of jewellery, or incorporating it into a “Jewel-Objet” *  or Keepsake box …

METAL CHOICE

I work in a lot of different metals such a silver, palladium, white gold, yellow gold and rose gold… Your budget may guide your choice of metal. You might want to choose a certain metal for its symbolic meaning, its colour, or durability .

TRANSFORMING

If you have some old precious jewellery with sentimental value, I can transform it into something  more contemporary. I can also melt precious jewellery, re-use the metal to give a new life to outdated pieces and make something completely different that she/he will love wearing!

When you are ready for an initial discussion, I will help clarify things by sketching out a few ideas for you to respond to. Then, after further discussion, I will require a few days to put together a more complete selection of designs to be presented to you for consideration.
Once agreed upon, I will then calculate a cost for your choice and request a 50% deposit to begin making your piece.

Normally, four weeks are required for the making process . It can be shorter or longer depending on the commission. I will keep you updated on progress.
Finally, I will contact you to arrange final payment followed by either collection or delivery. (All work will be posted using Royal Mail Special delivery or Airsure. )

 

When you are ready to turn your idea into reality, do get in touch by email or telephone to start the discussion.
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