Becoming a jewelry artist was never in my plans. Professionally, I was a kitchen designer. However, there was a river rock necklace that I passed up when I was traveling in 1999. In 2005 I saw a necklace that reminded me of it. When I checked out the artist at a gallery (Thanks to Susan Parke to leading me in this direction), I learned about a metalsmithing workshop with Lois Bertillino. I started the next week.
Then I went to study for a week that summer (and the next summer) with Marilynn Nicholson at the Taos School of Metalsmithing and Lapidary Design, www.taosjewelryschool.com. Here I got my introduction to setting stones.....and buying them, as Taos has a great cut stone store (as do Santa Fe and Alberquerque). Another highlight for me was taking Master Symposiums with Andy Cooperman in 2008 at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Art in San Francisco, www.revereacademy.com.
More recently, I am pleased to have Dana Cassara of Danaca Design in
Seattle as my education resource. Whatever my concern, she helps me work it out. I rely on her expertise in either an individual session or group workshop, www.danacadesign.com.
A major turning point for me was taking the Artist Trust's EDGE Course, www.artiststrust.org. I had an eight week/50 hour class for the development of the professional business aspect of being an artist. It focused on building a strong portfolio and networking. Our group gave a public presentation at the Whatcom Museum and had a show, "The Creative Edge", in August 2009 at the Blue Horse Gallery in Bellingham, www.bluehorsegallery.com. Part of our EDGE group has continued with great networking and support. We had a juried show at Allied Arts of Whatcom in Bellingham, January 2010.
Because of The EDGE Program, I got involved with Skagit Artists Together, www.skagitartiststogether.com. All sorts of opportunities have arisen through SAT. At home in La Conner I was fortunate to be invited to the Emerging Artists Show at Art's Alive in November 2009. (Thanks to Sharon Connell referring me to Greg Robinson at MoNA, www.museumofnwart.org. And thanks to Greg for the opportunity, which was major starting point for me.) I continued with two shows that followed at Gallery Cygnus, www.gallerycygnus.com.
I was at Gallery by the Bay in Standwood, WA for their Holiday Gift Show. I was there through February.
In February I was a part of "In Celebration of Northwest Arts and Crafts" at the Blue Horse Gallery in Bellingham. I am now pleased to be represented by the Blue Horse Gallery. You can find my jewelry at the Blue Horse and on their website www.bluehorsegallery.com.
I will be there for a JANE PENMAN TRUNK SHOW AT THE BLUE HORSE on Thursday evening, May 6th. I will be featuring Stones of the Pacific Northwest. I will give a twenty minute presentation (along with the rocks) on these stones and the use of stones in my Art Jewelry. Necklaces,
I also have jewelry at The Silvery Moon. It's an interesting jewelry store in Fairhaven in the southern part of Bellingham, just up the hill from the ferry to Alaska.
Early March was highlighted with MoNA Style at the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner. It was a busy day with about forty local artists talking and selling their specialities to over a thousand people, along with some of these goods shown in fashion shows at four local restaurants.
I have two shows coming up that are called "New Directions". In April/early May I will be at the Larson Gallery in Yakima for a nationally juried show. Then, I will be at The Depot in Anacortes in May for a Skagit Artists Together show. I will show my new Reversible Necklaces. I will
be in the MoNA Auction, June 19th in La Conner. I will have two pieces of Art Jewelry: a Jane Penman Necklace with a Nevada Gem Variscite stone, as well as a Lapis Lazuli and silver brooche from my New Brooche Collection, www.museumofnwart.org.
Lots is going on, which takes me a bit by surprise, since my first juried show was only one and a half years ago. My first metalsmithing workshop was March 2005, and my first lapidary class was July 2006. I began selling my jewelry, which was silver overlay earrings and beaded necklaces, at Organic Matters at Art's Alive 2005 in La Conner, WA. When I was ready to sell my fabricated beach rock and stone necklaces and earrings, Organic Matters was my first location. Today the store is in process of closing..."end of an era".
Recently, I gave a digital presentation of my work at a Skagit Artists Together meeting. Also, I am a new Board Member.
My jewelry is available at Two Moons in La Conner, www.twomoonsgallery.com. If you're in Bellingham, check out the Bluehorse Gallery in Old Town on East Holly. And in Fairhaven, I'm at The Silvery Moon, a jewelry store on Harris. If you take a ferry to San Juan Island, do stop by Island Studios. They are two blocks up the hill from the ferry. And in Edmonds (up the street from the ferry to Kingston and the Olympic Peninsula), you'll find Jane Penman Necklaces and earrings at Manya Vee Selects. This summer I will be at the Bellevue Festival of The Arts and the Samish Island Summer Arts Festival in July and the Anacortes Arts Festival in August. Come September, I plan the be at Art at the Plant Farm in Smokey Point. And before we know it, it will be October and San Juan Island....
and in particular Island Studio in Friday Harbor....hosts Artstock, the first
weekend.
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