So Many Patterns

Over the years I have been building up a library of patterned rings. I first started out doing these because I felt it was safe and cheaper than working with large diamonds that I could not afford. As time went on I have continued building these rings and have found a real joy in making them. I get inspired in many different ways and try to create a variety of styles hoping to have a little something for everyone. Although I’m not very known and have a long way to go, it doesn’t stop me from continuing to create what I love. Owning a variety of rings is fun and brings a different feel for different occasions.

Ok so lets get into passion. My hope is that other people will also develop a passion for this type of wearable art. When I create a pattern that works it uplifts me and makes me admire the beauty. I could say the same about any art out there. I guess if you are an art lover you can appreciate the talent, inspiration and hard work that goes into making a piece. I like to mention again wearable art. I love this concept because it means that you are able to keep it with you and enjoy it on the go. It doesn’t have to be something that just sits at home, but can be enjoyed in those small moments when you glance down and see the art right at your hands. I don’t just love what I do or create. I also love all those talented people out there that have their own passion whether it be music, art, crafts, engineering, gardening, or anything out there that someone just loves and has a passion for. When someone has a passion for something you can see and feel the affects of it reflect in their work. The attention to detail and the way it all flows together is magical and just uplifts the spirits.

As an artist it’s not always all that wow and powerful inspiration that explodes out and creates these wonderful works. More times than not I’m looking for inspiration and there are many days when you have to work hard for it and even then it goes no where. That is when all the hard work comes in because as I struggle to find what works the journey carries me to find something that finally flows together and it beautiful. Those are the moments when I feel the best. When I can look back and be happy with what I’ve done. Now there are times too when I look back at old pieces I’ve created and really don’t like what I’ve done anymore. I have to also admit that there are pieces of art that I’ve created that I’m not all that satisfied with, but I put it out there and move on from it. Interestingly sometimes other people find those pieces as something they like and are inspired to gravitate towards. Or I feel like this is the one and I so love it, but other people don’t seam to care for it. So I guess the best thing is to keep trying and trying. And that is what I’ve been doing over the years. As you can see I have developed a wide variety of patterns. Some are better than others, but when I look at this image and see the diversity in them I can’t help but to feel a sense of wow. Look at that. In those days of grinding and making I at times loose that sense of what I’m doing and when I look back I can now see it is mounting up to something.

I don’t know the future and don’t know if I’ll ever be successful at being able to do what I love full time on my own. I do know that I have a passion and that drive to keep going. So even if I keep going til the end of my life I’ll be satisfied with the knowledge that I at least tried and never gave up. That may be bad business practice, but as most artists this is more than a business. It’s my passion and I can’t stop and will always find a way to create some form of art that can be worn or shared with others. Inspiring and uplifting to the soul.

Ring Design

I recently had someone at the Arizona Bridal Show ask me what inspires my designs. I love designing rings. There are many ways to create or come up with a new design. Personally I go through stages and work with different methods to get ideas or to just jump in and design. I’ll try and explain a few of these stages I go though.

Lately I have not looked for ideas or inspiration and just open up something like sketchbook pro (which is now free to everyone) where I then turn on symmetry and sketch out a pattern. Unfortunately most of my drawings look better as a sketch than turned into 3d. Once in 3d though I can see it and make changes as needed as I develop the idea. This method is fun and my mind can be free. Most patterns sketched in this method just come from my head. There is no other way to put it. My ideas are inspired by more ideas as I just start sketching patterns.

So that leads me to sometimes just opening up my CAD (computer aided design) program and pull out a blank band to just start playing with ideas. This method takes longer at times. I sometimes just take old patterns and change them up and start to put them on the ring. From there things just start happening and I guess each object that I add develops into the next one until its done. This I feel I have lots of freedom to push and pull to my satisfaction. Zbrush is another program that I use to sculpt and am allowed to be free with my ideas.
Another method is to browse the internet. I love just looking at nature patterns. Some ideas come from floral wood carvings. Sculpture and other crafts that have great talented people. Lots of times these large pattern I see inspire me to make something similar, but on a smaller and more simplified way. you can only pack so much detail into such a small thing such as a ring.
Sometimes inspiration comes from just being with family or going out. As I see a pattern on someones clothing or I see a rug with a cool pattern, or a cool pattern in the tree bark. So many ways to come up with ideas. I will usually just try out and play with the ideas that jump out at me. That is called inspiration. I get excited and that is when I start to experiment with those ideas. From there it leads to one of the methods above like sketches or just jumping into CAD.

So there you have it. Those are some ways I design when inspired to create. Here are some rings that I will be adding to my site soon. I just need to photograph them and add them to my site. This does take a while, but then that gives you something to look forward to, right?

Some New Designs I have not fully added to my website yet.

Square Rings

So today I wanted to talk about square rings and how they can be comfortable and stylish. I have been designing rings that have four showing sides. Sometimes a little rounded and other times more flat. The neat thing about them is that they are actually very comfortable to wear. The band is thin between the fingers and the corners get quite a bit thicker. These types of rings don’t tend to spin around the finger and have a nice weight and feel to them. Square shank bands are a bit eye catching too since most people are use to seeing a round ring. Square rings although have flat sides on the outside, the inside of them are still round to slide onto the finger as a traditional round ring would. Here are a few examples of square rings (see image below).

The Loopy Celtic knot ring that you see below is packed with detail on both the inside and outside of the ring. Even though you don’t see the patterns on the inside while wearing the ring, just knowing that it’s there makes it cool. When someone wants to see it you take it off and show all the extras that come with this band. It can be worn as just a great stylish ring or even for a wedding band. My bands are not usually gender specific. Male or Female can wear them. Most of my patterned bands are a little wider than some people are use to. Around 8mm to 10mm wide. They are this wide so that a pattern can be made in greater detail. For thin bands the pattern has to stay simple, but I like how the wider bands can show lots of detail and they also have a nice weight to them. That’s something you want in a ring. Thin rings tend to bend and wear a lot faster, but a well made band will be thick enough to be comfortable yet strong enough that it won’t bend the first time you drop it or bump it. These rings are some of my favorites.

If you are ever looking for some unique style bands just check out my inventory. I’m about ready to swap out my wedding band to one of these. I also make them in 14k gold even when not listed on my site. Just ask for a quote if ever interested in a ring that is not in gold yet.

Well I love designing rings with patterns and as you can see I have a whole site dedicated to this. I design them in CAD software and that is like a master mold of that ring. I get inspired to create new designs by many ways. The usual way will be to just start building. I start playing around with different ideas and objects that I create until something works out. Yeah there are times I go back and look at old designs and I’m no longer happy with them. Those rings I don’t really know what to do with. They usually just sit there. Hopefully the better designs are the ones that over time I feel are still great designs. The better designs will stick around. I don’t believe in discontinuing rings. I would rather just keep an archive of all my rings and so they are always available even years down the road. Have you ever lost a ring and can’t get an original again? Well with me I’ll always keep the design available and if I accidentally remove it, just contact me and I’ll find it.

So that is a little bit about me and my designs. The square rings are my favorites right now so check them out and maybe there is something in there for you. :)