Cinnamon Lee’s first encounter with 3D manufacturing technologies was at the Australian National University, while she was undertaking her Visual Arts degree. ANU had just acquired an FDM rapid prototyping machine, and she took to it immediately; she feels herself lucky to have been in the right place at the right time. “The thing that really kept my interest was the level of accuracy and precision that I was able to achieve using the technology. Because I have come from a traditional craft background, these new tools really offered an inspiring way of conceiving how things could be made.”

 

cinnamon lee - Blood Oath

cinnamon lee – Blood Oath

 {all images courtesy of John Lee}

 

With work-from-home graphic designers for parents, she grew up learning how to use a scalpel and setsquare instead of scissors. ” Their craft (pre-computers) had a significant impact on my childhood… I was always making stuff. I also clearly remember getting my own set of rapidograph pens when I was 10 and having to learn how to look after them so the tiny nibs didn’t get blocked. I think I probably learnt a lot about design fundamentals through osmosis as a result of being exposed to my parent’s profession, although I was blissfully unaware at the time.”

 

 

cinnamon lee - Solitaire 2&3

cinnamon lee – Solitaire 2&3

 

Besides her parents, Cinnamon counts her brother as an important influence. “My older brother was traditionally trained as an animator (using pencil, paper and lightbox), and he continues to provide me with inspiration by the individually unorthodox way that he has managed his own career in the arts. I admire the way he makes his own rules and never follows any pre-trodden path.”

“Like many others I am also constantly impressed by the wonders of nature, on both micro and macroscopic levels. I am especially interested in the impact that science and technology has on human development. I love the sense of order amongst chaos revealed by deeper and more complex layers of understanding of the world around us. I am both excited and horrified by the extremes of human nature…all facets are fascinating.”

 

cinnamon lee - See Through pair

cinnamon lee – See Through pair

 

Over the last 15 years of practice, including completing her Masters in 2010, she has produced work for both lighting design and in jewellery; a fusion of concept-driven, individualistic design, 3D additive manufacturing processes and hand-making techniques result in work that is precise, bold and very engaging.

Her latest work  includes a range of rings in gold and titanium with black gemstones, and introduces the new process of selective laser melting (SLM), whereby a high-power laser beam fuses together finely powdered metal.

 

cinnamon lee - Promises x4

cinnamon lee – Promises x4

 

cinnamon lee - Until Death

cinnamon lee – Until Death

 

cinnamon lee - Inset Pair

cinnamon lee – Inset Pair

 

cinnamon lee - Diamonds to Hearts

cinnamon lee – Diamonds to Hearts

 

Tough Love is Cinnamon’s most recent solo exhibition,  focusing on the forms of wedding and engagement rings, but reinterpreting the traditional symbols of diamonds and hearts in subtle and surprising ways. Some of this work is now making its way into a new store in the Strand Arcade, Sydney – Courtesy Of The Artist Customsister store to the established contemporary jewellery gallery, Courtesy of the Artist.

 

cinnamon lee - covert romantic

cinnamon lee – covert romantic

 

cinnamon lee - Super Solitaire 1

cinnamon lee – Super Solitaire 1

 

cinnamon lee - Super Solitaire 2

cinnamon lee – Super Solitaire 2

 

 

Her best piece of advice comes from Mahatma Gandhi. 

“Almost everything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”

 

 

cinnamon lee - bench

bench

 

cinnamon lee - bench

bench

 

Cinnamon’s work has been acquired for a number of public collections including The National Gallery of Australia’s Decorative Arts Collection. You can find more of her work on her own website, www.cinnamonlee.com, and at courtesyoftheartist.com.au/pages/wedding-and-engagements.