Bay
THE MAKING OF BAY
PAINTING IN GLASS
When I began this ring, it started with a vision of low tide, of rocks and crustaceans and of sunsets in the Pacific Northwest. I ended up using a combination of CAD modeling, 3D printing, and hand carving to get the structure of the ring. Once it was cast in 18k yellow gold, I engraved the rest of the details.
If you have ever seen the sand paintings that the Tibetan monks create, then you might start to have an idea of what it is like to enamel. It can be tedious to say the least. This type of work demands the utmost cleanliness. And sometimes the issue of impermanence (when I accidentally bump the ring before it is fired in the kiln and all the enamel grains fall out) feels like it takes me to my absolute limits. Here is a process photo of "painting" the enamel into the recessed areas.

After the the vitreous enamel is fused in, I set the Montana sapphires. Here it is all finished. Click to see more images or purchase