Lillian Jones
1st Place – “Green Melody”
North Carolina resident Lillian Jones creates one-of-a-kind stunning enamel jewelry. Her passion is in the process of making her handmade pieces and discovering new skills and techniques, while "pushing her own boundaries.” Lillian’s time is mostly devoted to increasing the knowledge of enameling not only for herself, but for enamelists as a whole.
Artist Interview:
Q. What/who was your inspiration?
This piece is a result of me challenging myself technically—my specific interest in enamel and pushing its boundaries. I combined enamel with forging, then drew it on paper and set about to make it. My goal was to do something I hadn’t done before and neither had anyone else. I was pushing technical boundaries.
Q. How long did it take to make the piece?
Two to three months. I made the whole thing a couple of times.
Q. What challenges did you overcome while you were making it?
I drew it on paper and it was lovely, perfect. Then I turned the paper into metal and draped it around my neck. I discovered it couldn’t be worn so I had to remake a whole bunch of it. My lesson was to finish designing it first!
Q. What do you plan to do with the piece?
Honestly, put it in a box and hide it someplace.
Q. Will this piece inspire other work?
Everything you do is a journey. Since I have taken it this far, I will push it a little further with each new piece. One thing builds on another.
Q. What did you feel when you learned you’d won?
I was very surprised and honored. SBDA is the premiere event for designers to be involved in.
Q. Whom did you tell first about winning?
I told my boyfriend.
Q. Of all the arts and crafts why did you choose jewelry?
When I was about 15, I wanted to buy a camera. I figured that if I made enough money selling jewelry then I could buy a Nikon. I bought the Nikon and was terrible at photography but I loved jewelry. And it went on from there.
Q. What was the first piece of jewelry you ever made?
It was a hammered silver ring that had a blue tiger eye in it.
Q. What was your training/academic background in jewelry-making?
My undergraduate degree is in print making. Then I went to the Museum School at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where I eventually ended up in jewelry. And I loved the people there. The people in the jewelry department were so authentic. My graduate degree was in industrial design.
Q. What was the biggest challenge you have faced in your business?
There are several answers. The most honest is that I am not very interested in business—turning your artwork into money. I married a man who became chronically ill and I spent much of my time early on being a caregiver. We worked together to survive. Now I just want to “make.”
Q. What is the best advice you received?
I am still looking for some good advice. If you know anyone who has some please give them my contact information.
Q. What other awards, honors have you received in your career?
A scholarship to the school at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. I was an SBDA finalist in 2014 and 2019.
Q. What is your definition of “success”?
Just getting a color combination which “sings.” It is all about the process and the color. I work on very small pieces that are about the size of a stamp so I look for that perfect color, that perfect green. That is success!
Creative Influences and Environment
Q. What or who do you think has been the strongest influence or inspiration on your work?
Sandra McEwen, who is also an enamelist. It is so important to me to have her as a friend and fellow enamelist and she is a large influence on me and my jewelry.
The big inspiration in my jewelry and enamel has always been to invent new ways to create and see if I can make it work. Also to add to the toolkit of other enamelists. I strive to improve the ways to improve the processes, create surfaces, trying new and different things. I am more of an academic than a business person—more interested in ideas than money.
Q. What artist, dead or alive, do you most admire? Why?
William Harper for his magic. I like Charles Rennie MacKintosh for his proportions and his unexpectedness. And I worked for the late, great, Mary Ann Sherr. She was a woman who had a lot of courage. I learned a lot about the life of an artist and creative person by observing how it impacted her as she got older. As she aged she literally shined because of her creativity.
Q. Do you follow long-term trends? If so, why or why not?
I don’t follow long-term trends. That being said, I look at artists from the past and their work is very identifiable to their period.
Q. Is the product or the process more important to you? Why?
I care zip about the product. It is all about the process.
Q. What is your favorite tool?
Right now the most useful thing I have is an Ultralite Kiln. It is a little kiln about the size of a large cup of coffee. It is perfect and simple for jewelry. And I like my Bonny Doon press.
Q. What metals, gemstones, processes do you enjoy most?
Silver, gold, enameling and forging.
Q. Describe your studio.
I have an upstairs in my house which is my big studio for my metalwork. And I have a sunroom downstairs that holds a 3’ x 6’ folding plastic table which is also a work area.
Interview by Marlene Richey