Jon Lepper resume
Artist's Statement
Jon Lepper
My current work in jewelry metals has its roots in my first love, clay. I started out as a potter, producing both functional and sculptural clay pieces. I work best when I can feel the material with which I am working and can respond in a spontaneous way to the creative process. In my jewelry I try to keep that spontaneity and artistic expression by choosing techniques that are hard to control and by hand fabricating all my pieces so each one is unique. I employ fusing, repousse, roller printing, cuttle casting, and niello because they allow me to create a variety of textural surfaces, much like I was able to do with clay.
In my past years as an artist, I was primarily an artist-teacher, spending almost 35 years in the Spokane Schools and local colleges. During that time my work ranged from pottery through painting and sculpture. I found my way into jewelry only because I had to teach it! As I learned the techniques and practiced them in my studio, I found a love for what is essentially small sculpture. Now that I have time to pursue this art I am able to work in series, improving both my skill level and my imagery.
My pieces may show an influence from my interest in the imagery of other cultures, especially ancient cultures. Ever since I discovered National Geographic as a boy, I have been interested in the meaning of petroglyphs, cave paintings, and the relief carvings of the Egyptian, Inca, and other lost cultures. I like to combine textures, symbols, and sometimes imagery to create pieces of jewelry that look like they have some mystery or lost meaning. Once in a while my sense of humor shows up in narrative work.
I continue to use silver and copper alloys, 22K gold overlay, along with some semiprecious stones. Most recently I've been coloring resins and inlaying them into silver forms. My work is considered artisan jewelry, and the pieces are one of a kind and hand fabricated.
My work is ever evolving as I take workshops and actively participate in the Spokane Jewelers Guild and Seattle Metals Guild. My work can be seen at better craft fairs, Artisans' Wares, and the Tinman Gallery in Spokane, Washington, Harpers in Wallace, Idaho, and Margo's Fine Crafts in Buffalo, Wyoming.
Jon Lepper
My current work in jewelry metals has its roots in my first love, clay. I started out as a potter, producing both functional and sculptural clay pieces. I work best when I can feel the material with which I am working and can respond in a spontaneous way to the creative process. In my jewelry I try to keep that spontaneity and artistic expression by choosing techniques that are hard to control and by hand fabricating all my pieces so each one is unique. I employ fusing, repousse, roller printing, cuttle casting, and niello because they allow me to create a variety of textural surfaces, much like I was able to do with clay.
In my past years as an artist, I was primarily an artist-teacher, spending almost 35 years in the Spokane Schools and local colleges. During that time my work ranged from pottery through painting and sculpture. I found my way into jewelry only because I had to teach it! As I learned the techniques and practiced them in my studio, I found a love for what is essentially small sculpture. Now that I have time to pursue this art I am able to work in series, improving both my skill level and my imagery.
My pieces may show an influence from my interest in the imagery of other cultures, especially ancient cultures. Ever since I discovered National Geographic as a boy, I have been interested in the meaning of petroglyphs, cave paintings, and the relief carvings of the Egyptian, Inca, and other lost cultures. I like to combine textures, symbols, and sometimes imagery to create pieces of jewelry that look like they have some mystery or lost meaning. Once in a while my sense of humor shows up in narrative work.
I continue to use silver and copper alloys, 22K gold overlay, along with some semiprecious stones. Most recently I've been coloring resins and inlaying them into silver forms. My work is considered artisan jewelry, and the pieces are one of a kind and hand fabricated.
My work is ever evolving as I take workshops and actively participate in the Spokane Jewelers Guild and Seattle Metals Guild. My work can be seen at better craft fairs, Artisans' Wares, and the Tinman Gallery in Spokane, Washington, Harpers in Wallace, Idaho, and Margo's Fine Crafts in Buffalo, Wyoming.