Japanese gardens
A ring that took 3 months and taking new photos of my pieces
The more I learn about different disciplines and arts, the more I see parallels and overlapping themes.
I recently finished a new ring (see further below) and its design was inspired by Japanese gardens. As I reflected upon and researched Japanese gardens, I realized that the art of maintaining one embodies a lesson present in most art forms: beauty and meaning emerge from patient, intentional effort rather than haste or force.
In Japanese gardens, every element - stone, plant, or raked gravel - is carefully selected and placed to evoke a sense of natural harmony, inviting contemplation and mindfulness; the gardener’s hand is present, but always in service to the subtle rhythms of nature, not in dominance over it. Similarly, jewelry making and other arts require meticulous attention to detail, thoughtful selection of materials, and a willingness to invest time in trial and error.
True craftsmanship arises from respecting the process, embracing imperfection as part of growth, and allowing each step to unfold with care and deliberation.
New ring
The Blooming Pearl Ring is a three-dimensional, statement ring cast in 18 karat gold featuring a large Akoya pearl at the center. I was inspired by Japanese gardens and my various travels within Japan.
Japanese gardens embody the harmony between natural landscapes and human shaping. Japanese design principles use minimalistic elements and allow space to breathe, highlighting each component’s unique beauty.
I decided to set the floral center of my one-of-a-kind ring on a plain band in order to let the pearl and petals bloom without distraction. Just like in nature, the ring is almost symmetrical, but upon closer look, full of variance.
Making this ring involved several stages over 3 months. I first made the petals in mitsuro wax, made copies in soft jeweler’s wax to shape the flower and band, cast a master version in silver, cast it in gold, polished, and set the pearl.
The original design has petals that are straight, but I decided at the last minute to taper the petals and create a smooth finish that fades into the ribboning of the mitsuro. Having a variety of textures and shapes in the ring adds dimension and makes the piece even more unique.
Current projects
One of my projects that I am chipping away at is retaking photos of my existing pieces with a white/cream background.
For the past few months, I took photos of my pieces on top of aizome (Japanese indigo-dyed blue cloth). I like the way that the gold looks on indigo, but I feel like it distracts from the piece. White backgrounds are standard for jewelry and changing that probably isn’t the most necessary place for me to innovate.
It’s actually fairly difficult to get a product photo with a clean, white background. Even if you photograph in a light box with a white background, the photo doesn’t reliably capture an even background (due to subtle lighting changes, camera angles, tiny specks of lint you can’t see with your bare eye, etc.). I spend quite a bit of energy editing the background of each photo, so it may be a few weeks yet until I am ready to replace all the photos on my website.
Recent inspirations
My boyfriend and I baked a little strawberry shortcake for my birthday. Such a sweet (no pun intended) activity!
