Arbel Shemesh, Berkeley, CA
A bit of a description of my work:
The pieces are wearable art, nature inspired colorful jewelry made with polymer clay. Each is handmade and one of a kind, the nature of the clay lending itself to being shaped by hand into endless organic shapes just as each leaf is unique in nature. I use the millefiori method of caning to transform blocks of polymer clay into picture canes, a little like making a fancy sushie rolls. I then slice leaves, butterfly wings and flowers from the canes (tubes) and create the jewelry. Finally, the pieces are baked until cured. I make earrings, necklaces, hair pieces, and masks.
Inspired by nature and magic, Arbel's work is a mix of nature meets fantasy, with a healthy dose of craftsmanship. Her style is very organic and flexible, allowing creativity to flourish. “The beauty of creating in polymer clay is that the possibilities are endless. We create something out of nothing, with our creativity, we breath life into a blank block of clay, that is magical.”
Throughout her life, Arbel explored working with different materials. Beginning with beads, feathers and leather, she went on to become a metalwork artist working with silver, gold, and precious stones. 10 years ago, polymer clay came into her life as the perfect medium for expression. The process of making art is a lifelong journey, a powerful draw that defies explanation.
Arbel has a BFA in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute, and is a GIA certified Gemologist.
She was one of the pioneer beadwork teachers in the 1980's, teaching at the "Orb Weaver" bead store in Oakland CA.
She is a guest teacher on the PBS show "Beads Baubles and Jewels" and on the Fire Mountain Gems and beads videos. She studied metalworking at the college of Marin and worked for Jewelry designer Janet Alix. From 1990-2002 she designed and created silver and gold jewelry using both fabrication and casting. For 13 years she was the designer and coordinator of the Fire Mountain Gems print ads, displaying in all major beading, polymer clay and crafting magazines. She left FMG in 2014 to become an independent designer. Arbel lives in Berkeley CA with her husband and two Tibetan terriers.
