About

The Artist

Linda Iles

The most common metalworking techniques I use to create jewelry are those of hand-fabrication. I particularly like the feel of the metal as it takes shape through use of hand held tools; using methods that have been employed by silversmiths to create jewelry for centuries. They include cutting, soldering, texturing, applique, piercing and cold-joining (cold-joining requires the use of handmade staples and rivets to assemble parts). I have also used enameling techniques occasionally to add color to my metal pieces. Because all my pieces are created by hand, no two are ever exactly alike.
The basic components include metal sheet and wire. Metal sheets may be embossed into shape, or pressed or pierced into decorative forms, while metal wire is often hammered and formed to make earrings and sometimes used to create chains.

I mainly work in precious metals – my metal of choice is sterling silver, though sometimes pieces may be formed in 14kt gold or 14kt gold-filled. Occasionally I use other metals that are alloys, such as copper or brass. I work with both precious and semi-precious stones and pearls. Semi-precious stones are very popular and include amethyst (violet/purple), garnet (deep-red), opal (usually milky white or blue with flashes of color), aquamarine (bluish), jade (green), lapis lazuli (royal blue), carnelian (red or orange-red) and malachite (green with deeper green striations).
All these components are fashioned into the desired form and shape through the use of techniques, carried out with help of tools. I use pliers, files, mandrels, shaping forms, wire cutters and a jewelers saw. These are high precision tools, which are usually made in Switzerland or Germany.

I describe my work as handmade, fabricated jewelry, and use metal-smith techniques and jewelry bench skills. Fabrication takes time and dedication to learn. While some learn through classes at a community art center, vocational school or university, I learned the old-fashioned way, as an apprentice in a jeweler studio with a jewelry artist who was both a goldsmith and silversmith. I have been working as a silver/goldsmith since 1973.

For many years I traveled extensively throughout California, Nevada and Arizona, exhibiting my work in many, many art shows and galleries. After twenty-four years of traveling, I decided to retire from the show circuit and focus on activities in my home community of San Diego, California. I was a member of Many Hands Arts and Crafts Cooperative Gallery in San Diego for thirteen years. I juried into Spanish Village Art Association in 1998. Surrounded by the beauty and color of Balboa Park – a cultural hub of the city of San Diego – I am constantly renewed and inspired.

Linda has her studio in Balboa Park, in Spanish Village.
It is Studio 34A.