Ellen Corke

Jewelry

Bainbridge Island, WA

My style is rather eclectic which gives me the freedom to choose beads and findings that are unusual but pair well together ending up in a variety of styles.

I like to work mostly with silver and bronze metal clay. This gives me the opportunity to create my own clasps and embellishments. It also gives me the opportunity to utilize all the natural stones and materials found in nature around my home on Port Blakely, Bainbridge Island. This includes seaside pebbles, oyster shells, and other seascape forms which I use to create my silver metal clay pieces and incorporate these natural found treasures into my designs. I form my own molds for some of the metal clay pieces such as my silver oyster shells and textures. I form some of my necklaces and bracelets fusing fine silver and incorporate metal clay clasps and various types of gems, freshwater pearls, and crystals.

I am also strongly influenced by Southwest materials and its color pallet. I blend the best of the Pacific Northwest with the Southwest. I utilize braiding and knotting cord and/or leather into some of my jewelry pieces. I love creating different types of designs that go well with the beads I select. This enables me to create a different range of styles in necklaces and bracelets. I guess you could call my style “Northwest Meets Southwest!”

One of my other mediums is making European leather bracelets. I call them European because the findings and leather are originally from Europe. I first saw these bracelets when travelling in Spain. I purchase the findings and leather and design how I want them to look so there is some creativity in the process. These bracelets have been very popular and are versatile. One of the stores in Winslow, Plum, carries my line of leather bracelets.

Every year I attend the Tucson Gem and Jewelry Show and I have taken classes from Danaca which is located in the University District. I have also started furthering my skills and taking classes from Jane Martin who is in charge of the Jewelry Department at The Barn.

I presently have my jewelry at a gallery in Twisp, Washington – Keyser Studio and in Santa Fe, New Mexico – Full Bloom. I have also had a booth at two of our Fourth of July events.

My prices range from $25 to $150.

I offer limited edition archival prints in various sizes. They have a rich and vivid silkscreen like surface and mid-century vibe. Sophisticated use of color and composition sets the work apart and makes for refreshing art eye candy for interior spaces.

Artist Statement

Abstraction is my passion. I work intuitively, reacting to the shapes, colors, and marks to create fresh and evocative modernist artwork. I leave it to the viewer to dive in, pause, and discover their own mood and meaning.

I use and am inspired by, new media digital tools, platforms for global online sharing such as Instagram, and fine art digital printing. Some of my influences include Matisse’s cut-outs, mid-century art and design, and the paintings of Richard Diebenkorn, Stuart Davis, and David Hockney.

I look to Art to inspire, surprise, and bring forth a wave of feeling that reminds us of our wondrous existence. I feel it in my process of creating these works. I hope the viewers of my work share in this sense of satisfaction and wonder.

Please visit my website to see more and shop online. Follow me on Instagram @leslienewman.