I am primarily interested in forging and shaping metal. Usually I sketch my ideas on paper and then transfer the drawing to
the metal, it is only when the shape has been
cut out and I begin to shape it with the hammer, that I discover
how it will look. When I
do a series of pieces, they are always similar, never exactly
the same and I never
attempt to do anything exactly the same. Making jewellery and
sculpture is like
painting, singing or dancing, you have to give your work a life
of its own or you
yourself will die.
My
work is shaped by a few simple tools, not dissimilar to the
tools that Jewellery makers would have used in Ireland two
thousand years ago.
What influences my work?
Do you really want to know? Please say; No!
Well
okay, I will start by what does not influence my work.
(1)
Fashion
I have not a clue what is in or what is out and I could not care less.
(2) Colour
Silver looks great with every colour, but then, I had to say that!
Some of my
greatest influences have come from walking to the dumhach (pronounced Duach) my local beach. I am a collector.
My
mother claims I was collecting from the age of five,
I would arrive home from
school with bits of
radios, clocks and pieces of wood, all gathered from people’s dustbins.
(I was ahead of my time,) Now I collect bones, feathers, rocks and even seaweed.
They all help to inspire some of the amazing Jewellery that you see here
(I had to say that as well!).
 Strange as
it may sound, I on occasions dream of designs and unlike dreams
where you cannot always remember the dream, once you wake up,
the designs stay with me for days.
Other ideas come from listening
to good music. The music of Bjork was introduced to me recently
(thanks be to God real music is still being made!). I also
keep an eye on the
competition (when ever I can find it! as you can see there is not many people
as creative as I am!)
I am of course guided in design by the female form and
I also listen to what women say about my jewellery, how an earring
hangs, how much of the ear they would like to be covered, or how comfortable it is to wear. At the Gallery I custom fit the jewellery to the customers requirements.
Until recently I
only worked with my own designs, the only exception being then,
Aoise Ruadh Ní Néill, my then eight year old daughter, who
designed An
Capall (The Horse). It is a horse that only a child could
draw. Aoise is an astute business child. I somehow got roped into
a
deal, where she collects royalties on the sales of An Capall.
Ola Jacewicz has also contributed greatly to my work, being the inspiration for many pieces and for creating some of her own designs.
Aoise has promised to give me some more of her designs, she has a great talent and is begining to understand how the designs are formed by me in silver. Yes, she didn't forget to put in for a royality deal either!
I am introducing semi precious stones into my designs. Their colour is captivating and gives another dimension to my work. I love red coral and the multiple shades of greens in our own native Connemara marble. Turquoise and the power of Quartz are amazing to work with, I hope you like the results.
June 2008
I teach and I learn as well!
Nene Buglia will be in 'Café Gallery Ruairí O Neill' during the summer. She is my apprentice and is bringing her own Italian flair for design to her work.
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