Side Street Studio Blog
Stuart writes:
“I founded Wren Silverworks in 1997.
As a child, I was always drawing, deriving inspiration from the natural world around me. My ability to depict the world through the use of realistic lines led me into a career as an illustrator. I also co-owned an art gallery for a few years. In the early 90’s I apprenticed with silver worker Harold Alfred. This inspired me to produce a line of jewellery that marries my ability to draw realistic lines to silver.
This allowed me to create tangible pieces of art with a naturalist theme — jewellery through which the wearer can celebrate the beauty and strength of nature and our connection to it.
My Wren Silverworks jewellery is unusual in that it combines realistic line drawing with the medium of silver.
How is the Jewellery Made?
Each brooch, earring, bracelet or pendant is individually engraved and finished to the highest of standards.
The variety of designs range from birds such as Ravens, Hummingbirds and the Great Blue Herons to the majesty of a Bald Eagle, or the graceful form of a Hummingbird.
All my jewellery is individually engraved, each line carved separately, and each open area cut out with little Jewellers saws. As each design is hand created each time, it will vary just slightly piece to piece, making each a unique work of art. On the back there is a sterling stamp, and my signature.
The first step in crafting the jewellery is to develop the designs. Inspired by Canadian flora and fauna, I create detailed line drawings. Then, the rough outline of the design is sawn out of a flat sheet of sterling silver. 22-gauge silver is used for earrings and brooches and 16 or 18-gauge silver is used for bracelets.
The silver is pre-polished, and the planned design is drawn onto it. Next, the silver is engraved along the design lines, each line individually carved with a variety of gravers. Using a tiny saw, the silver is cut out again, this time following the periphery of the design as well as cutting out any pieces from inside the design.
The edges are filed to a smooth finish. The piece is shaped: this involves using a leather hammer to bang the silver into a pre-carved shaping “holes”, giving the flat silver gentle curves. In the case of a brooch, a clasp is soldered onto the back, and then I polish the brooch with a tripoli (clay) compound. The silver is then washed in an ultrasonic washer, dried, polished with rouge finer clay) and washed again.
All hook earrings have sterling silver Sheppard hooks and stud earrings have sterling silver posts and closures. Brooch backs have a locking clasp. Brooches and earrings are made in 22 gauge silver, and bracelets in 16 gauge and 18 gauge. Sizes listed are approximate”.
Stuart lives on twelve acres, surrounded by wildlife, on the outskirts of Victoria, B.C. His beautiful work can be found at Side Street Studio, Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, B.C. and on line at www.sidestreetstudio.com
