The Starfish and Fan Coral Cuff is taking shape...

What can I say...just dots but once polished
they will take on a pearl look.

 

Well after 10 hours of solid work...it's still far from being
completed but loving the concept of this design. I had my doubts
when I took a cut into a perfectly good starfish but
I realized my fan coral always looks pretty
crappy in the beginning so I kept cutting!

New Project...Updated with Sketch

After a week of thinking, I've decided to incorporate my fan coral design into my
starfish design.  It will be a combination of an embossed as well as
cutting through the wax as if you were looking through the fan coral.
I'm sure it will change...atleast 20% once I start cutting, so hopefully
tomorrow I can show off the finished wax piece.

My Inspiration Photo for a Starfish Cuff requested by
one of my customers.



Only a quarter finished but I'm trying it on for size...another great
quality about sculpting a wax model.



No detail on the starfish yet, still working with
character, comfort, legs before I continue...

 

Which one will she pick?

I was asked to come up with an "Asian inspired design" using her 44 beautiful 11mm round Jade Beads her husband surprised her with several months while on a trip overseas.

The first thing to come to my mind was the dragon but I wanted to put a bit of a spin on the traditional Chinese Dragon plus consider the Koi as well...so here is what I came up with...also, before I forget...I want to thank all of those Tattoo Artist for their inspiration as well, my hat is off to their wonderful talents!

Butterfly Koi

Lady Koi



Dragon Koi

Each design incorporates a single Jade Bead within the design...sort of my trademark on that one...anyway, each pendant will be sculpted about half the size show and my talent will be in removing the wax from the back to reduce the weight to hang properly!

I have put this on a one day delay because she will be seeing them for the first time on her Sept. 1st Birthday and hopefully she will like one of these designs.

Finished product will be VERY three-deminsional and then cast in Sterling Silver with gold accents (maybe) and each bead, hand knotted by Frances...she's the best!

Custom Bamboo Pendant & Earrings



Bamboo Pendant
14k Yellow Gold & Sterling Silver

Total height including Bail 2.5"
1.25" wide

Bamboo Earrings
14k Yellow Gold & Sterling Silver



Bamboo Set



Original Sketch

About Ametrine
Quartz which occurs in bands of yellow and purple has been given the name of ametrine (amethyst + citrine).

Initially cutters favored windowed emerald shapes with a 50/50 split of colors, and much of the rough is still cut this way.

For additional information, please call or e-mail me.

Ok, so I'm a matchie matchie jewelry designer...

This ring exhibits the natural features of a 12mm South Sea Pearl wrapped up in a very daring contemporary design with Sterling Silver Fan Coral and 14K gold starfish accent.



...the other side.



Showing the Tahitian Pearl



 This striking Sterling Silver cuff features a very
contemporary design, yet retains the natural look of
fan coral as it wraps around the wrist as if it grew that
way in the ocean currents.



Chrysocolla stone and starfish add
color and contrast.



Sideview showing overlapping fan coral,



...even the back is pretty.

For more information, just e-mail me at dawnvertrees@gmail.com

May 11th Lionfish Update

...still tweaking.

I'm still about half finished but here is my latest Pics...

For my base (also not finished) I have started sculpting my Finger & Cabbage Corals which will sit on black granite.

Sooo much work to do...a lot of smoothing out, filling in and tweaking.

Updated...

I'm taking my art in a new direction...I'm still making my jewelry but just flexing my art a bit and trying my hands on a new "Bronze Lionfish Sculpture". My galleries have said to go for it...and I am!

I'll be starting next week and I'm so excited! I have decided to use wax instead of clay...wax is just comfortable in my hands.

This is Next Week...

Well after another three days of work...he's starting to take shape but he's a long way off from being completed. I know I have at least a week of just cleaning him up. More later...

May 6th 2011...I started on the side fins yesterday...and I now know why I haven't seen but a few bronze Lionfish sculptures especialy realistic ones...all I can say is that this is tough to do!

This is about 3 days of work but he is starting to take on a bit of personality.

Don had to make a wooden cradle for this guy, he's about 15" long and starting to take shape.

Getting better at sculpting him, it's a bit different from sculpting jewelry but I'm enjoying this project. Today I'll be working on adding some more personality to his fins. The part that makes me a bit nervous at this point is the side fins...the part that makes him so unique.

I'm sculpting this guy based on around 100 photos and this is the main photo...this is what the end product to look like.

...and this is what the side fins will look like. Needless to say, I want to get as much practice in before I attempt these awesome fins.

more later!

 3 New Awards

It's been a busy month! Gasparella, Award of Merit for my "Bamboo Foliage Necklace", Mainsail Art Festival, Award of Merit and Islamorada, FL...Best of Show! ...and I'm so tired!

2011 Award for Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

Bamboo Foliage Necklace

 Awarded Individual Award of Merit

 All I can say is that it's always an honor to win an award 

at Gasparella. 

Thanks Gasparella and to all of the volunteers!

About the piece: Bamboo Collection

Mediums: Sterling Silver, 14K Solid Gold with 14 diamonds

$3,600.00

New Bamboo Star Ruby Ring

I fell in love with this stone several months ago and I immediately went searching 

for 4 small blue sapphires to add to the many jewel tone colors in this stone.

My metal choices were Sterling Silver & 14k Gold

New Facebook Page...lets get started!

I have been wanting to start this page for a while now because I want to hear from you,

 please visit my page and give me a shout!

 

-Dawn

Bamboo Necklace

Bamboo Foliage Necklace is now available.

Bamboo Collection

Bamboo Necklace

The latest addition to our Bamboo Collection, The Bamboo Foliage Necklace is available now! Featuring our proprietary Flex Wire design, this comfortable design will move with you, yet give you the customization and adjustability that will allow for subtle adjustments for different necklines and collar styles. This is done by incorporating a flexible joint in the center of the design as well as an adjustable toggle/chain in the back.  

Shown in 342 Bronze with Sterling Silver neck wire, this design is also available in all Sterling Silver, or most any custom configuration you can dream up! Gold leaves with 3pt diamonds interspersed between the leaves? Bronze with a green patina on leaves and highly polished neck wire? Send us your ideas, we'd love to hear about them!

$1,650.00 

Close Up

I'm in the final process of sculpting one of my favorite collections. My hands were cramping up a bit sculpting the bamboo joints on the neck wire. I'm debating about adding small bamboo leaves at each joint...

I haven't decided which parts will be gold and silver but it will definitely be two tone to give it more dimension with some editions having small diamonds dotted between the leaves.










At this point, this is a pretty big project that will take 4-6 weeks to complete...if you are interested in purchasing this piece once completed, please e-mail me at dawnvertrees@gmail.com

New Release:

New Release: "Scooter" and "Peanut"

 Sculpted and Ready to be Adopted

Scooter and Peanut will be featured at the Ft. Lauderdale Orchid Show, January 14th-16th, 2011

and January 15th at the Wyland Galleries (Boardwalk and Polynesian Gallery) at Disney.

I sat in my studio on Lake Norman and created these two little froggies and they will immediately make you smile.

"Scooter"

$235.00

Pendant ID: 

SS-TF-PEND (Sterling Silver)

BZ-TF-PEND (Solid Bronze and CrystalCoat Coated)

Year Released: January 2011

Edition Size: 2000

Size: 2.0" x 1.50" x 3/4"

"Peanut"

$289.00

Ring ID: 

SS-TF-RING (Sterling Silver)

BZ-TF-RIND (Solid Bronze Frog, Sterling Silver Ring) 

CrystalCoat Coated

Year Released: January 2011

Edition Size: 2500

Size: 1 3/8" x 1" x 1/2"

Wyland Galleries

  Wyland Galleries 

announces newest artist Dawn Vertrees 

 

We are extremely proud to announce the placement of select works in two Wyland Galleries at the Polynesian Resort and the Boardwalk Resort at Disney in Orlando. 

 
As you might imagine, our Bamboo Collection and Orchid Collection have found a great fit surrounded by bronze sculpture and paintings of nature by renown artist Wyland as well as others. We hope to introduce our Ocean Reef Collection and Kudzu Collection over the coming months. 

The Wyland Galleries are some of the finest on the Disney properties, and feature only the highest quality art in the most beautiful atmosphere imaginable. 

If you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend a visit to either or both of these fine galleries the next time you're in Orlando!

Phalaenopsis Orchid Necklace

This is my Signature piece that I'm known for and being able to recreate this piece again has been so worth the time spent sculpting it.

  

Please e-mail me for additional information including current pricing.

This piece can be customized.

Starfish and Pearl Ring

 

Ocean Reef Collection - My Starfish Pearl Ring!

My rings are hand carved in wax and then cast using the lost-wax method. This ring is a highly detailed work of art with a design that flows all the way around the base of the ring.

Solid 14k yellow gold starfish wraps it's arms around this fabulous 13mm Black Tahitian Pearl. (blue, violet & green hues...beautiful)

This ring also features hand sculpted branch coral and plate coral accents.

Metals: 14K Yellow Gold and Sterling Silver 92.5 
Note: This ring can be customized.

Ocean Reef Collection

Hand Sculpted Fan Coral and Branch Coral Pendant

This pendant can be customized using a combination of Sterling Silver, 14k Gold or Bronze,
please e-mail me for more information. Our Signature Starfish is also available.

"more information"