Jessica Lucas has a bright future. She has only just finished uni, and her gorgeous enamelled pieces have only just made it out of her graduate show about a month ago. (And I’ll let you into a little secret – I bought one, they’re SO good!)
Inspired by diatoms (those tiny marine algae that come in such an array of spectacular shapes – google some images and check them out!), her work is both organic and precise. Layering up different coloured enamels over a formed surface results in mottled and rich colours that enhance the patterned shapes of each piece.
Although she came to uni straight out of school at the age of 17, she already had a bundle of skills under her belt. Jess’s mum is a lamp glass artist, and Jess says she used to help her mum with making things to sell in her jewellery shop in their home town of Coonabarabran, in northern inland NSW.
I spoke to Jess about her work at the show, and caught up with her again afterwards.
She told me she loved art and photography at school, but “I had no intention or interest in studying at a university level whilst I was in high school; I also was not eligible to receive an HSC mark because I was not studying enough subjects to warrant one. So naturally I had thought all chances of studying at uni were out the window. It was only after the career counsellor at school told me I could be considered for a Principal’s Recommendation which would allow me to apply for uni did I start thinking differently. I applied to study the BA (Photography) at Charles Sturt University and was accepted. I began in 2009, and whilst I was studying photography I also enrolled in some of the jewellery subjects as minor electives. After one term I decided it was what I really wanted to do at uni and changed my degree to the BA (Jewellery).”
“Throughout my time at university, I have been taught many different skills that are applicable to jewellers; lots that are necessary and some that are just a bonus to learn and practice. My main techniques in these works include pressing, saw piercing and enamelling.
“I was shown the technique of enamelling by Kirsten Haydon in 2010, and since then I have spent a lot of time investigating how it works on different types of metals and how differently it works with other enamels.”
I asked Jess what had been her worst experience as a jeweller. “It was melting the brooch I had spent weeks designing and making for an assignment the night before it was due and having to recreate a whole semester’s worth of work in a space of about 12 hours. In the end, the experience showed me how determination can help you overcome the biggest hurdle. The support from my peers helped me through that night, and if it wasn’t for the emotional support I would have most likely quit right then and there.”
Jess is incredibly thankful for the influence of Kirsten Haydon, and says that without her and her introduction to the marvels of enamelling, she wouldn’t have ended up with the great body of work that she has. “I also admire other artists such as Emily Gill, Karen Gilbert and Kristy Summerling -three very different jewellers with different styles and skills but all of which I find influence me in some way.” But by far, her biggest inspiration has come from Ernst Haeckel, 18th century biologist, naturalist, and artist, well known for his renderings of marine and plant life. Jess says it still amazes her how he could bring something to life in a 2D black and white print.
She reckons her best piece of advice has been “to always do what you like”, and this helped her to make the decision to change courses. “I am glad that I chose to leave photography and enrol in jewellery design otherwise I would have never been given such a great opportunity to create these works that I am immensely proud of.”
And for the future? “I will hopefully one day set up my own enamelling area at home so I can make more works with this as my main technique, but I have also been considering studying again to become a teacher and maybe work part time as a jeweller or work freelance to create my own designs to sell through markets or shops.”
I wish you all the very best, Jess!
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Jess doesn’t have a website, but if you want to get in contact with her, you can email her at jess.lucas@hotmail.com
Gorgeous work!