| Designs by Joan Ayles email: aylesjoan@hotmail.com 216 Victoria Street Salt Spring Island BC V8K 1P3 250 538 6252 |
| bio |
The natural world is the source of inspiration for my designs. I am an avid
gardener and I am fascinated by the forms, shapes, lines and colours of
nature. Art Nouveau jewellry with its curving forms and references to the
natural world are also an inspiration.
I love to work with colour which I utilize in my work with gemstones, pearls and
crystals. I also enjoy manipulating sterling silver and 12k gold fill wire.
Most of my work does not start with any formal design sketch. I make a 'bead
soup' of the colours I feel like working with. Then I take a length of sterling
silver or 12k gold fill wire and start shaping the wire until I am satisfied that I
have a well designed and executed form to start wiring the gemstones,
pearls, crystals, etc. to. The first beads to be wired on are the one or ones I
have chosen to be the focal point of the piece, I work from the larger shapes
to the smallest in a very organic way.
I am a graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta
with a four year Diploma in the Arts (metals major) and later obtained a
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the same school.
I live on Salt Spring Island, BC with my husband Len. For seven months of
the year I sell my jewellry at the Saturday market on Salt Spring.
gardener and I am fascinated by the forms, shapes, lines and colours of
nature. Art Nouveau jewellry with its curving forms and references to the
natural world are also an inspiration.
I love to work with colour which I utilize in my work with gemstones, pearls and
crystals. I also enjoy manipulating sterling silver and 12k gold fill wire.
Most of my work does not start with any formal design sketch. I make a 'bead
soup' of the colours I feel like working with. Then I take a length of sterling
silver or 12k gold fill wire and start shaping the wire until I am satisfied that I
have a well designed and executed form to start wiring the gemstones,
pearls, crystals, etc. to. The first beads to be wired on are the one or ones I
have chosen to be the focal point of the piece, I work from the larger shapes
to the smallest in a very organic way.
I am a graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta
with a four year Diploma in the Arts (metals major) and later obtained a
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the same school.
I live on Salt Spring Island, BC with my husband Len. For seven months of
the year I sell my jewellry at the Saturday market on Salt Spring.