Elsa Tierney - The Art of Wax - Discovering Wax Carving Has Transformed The Way I Make Jewellery (podcast episode)
In this week's episode, Jess chats to Elsa Tierney, an award-winning jeweller and goldsmith based in the UK. Elsa, who also has a background in sculpture and art, shares her journey into jewellery making, which began in childhood with crafting hair braids and bangles. Her passion led her to study textiles and fine art, eventually focusing on jewellery. She discusses her book, "Art of Wax," and recounts her career challenges, including overcoming epilepsy and finding affordable studio space.
Listen now:
210: The Art of Wax - Discovering Wax Carving Has Transformed The Way I Make Jewellery
with Elsa Tierney
In this week's episode, Jess chats to Elsa Tierney, an award-winning jeweller and goldsmith based in the UK. Elsa, who also has a background in sculpture and art, shares her journey into jewellery making, which began in childhood with crafting hair braids and bangles. Her passion led her to study textiles and fine art, eventually focusing on jewellery. She discusses her book, "Art of Wax," and recounts her career challenges, including overcoming epilepsy and finding affordable studio space.
Now, as a successful jeweller, she continues to innovate and educate, offering classes and maintaining an inclusive studio environment. Her story underscores the importance of resilience and the value of creating supportive spaces within the creative industry.
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Elsa carving a signet ring - image copyright to Elsa Tierney
About Elsa
Elsa trained in jewellery making with a degree in silversmithing and fine art at Sir John Cass & Guildhall University.
She incorporates her sculptural skills and combines them with traditional methods of jewellery making.
She teaches wax carving at the Goldsmiths Centre and has taught wax carving at the Ayokin School in Tokyo.
She also teaches classes in her East London Alchemy Studios and has presented an online Domestika course on Wax Carving Techniques for Jewellery Design which you can find here: https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/4284-wax-carving-techniques-for-jewelry-design/elsatierneyarts
She has exhibited her work at Goldsmiths Fair and has won gold, silver and bronze awards at the Goldsmiths Crafts and Design awards.
In 2023 she was awarded a Goldsmiths Catalyst grant to travel to Japan to learn the technique of Mitsuro Hikime at the Tomoyasu School in Tokyo.
She recently she has written and self-published a book titled 'Art of Wax which explores the intersection between jewellery making and sculpture using different kinds of wax and a variety of wax types.
The book is a technical book which is presented in the form of an art book with beautiful photography and references to wax being used across cultures and continents throughout history, making this book a unique and interesting read as well as technically informative. To learn more you can find the book here: https://www.artmatter.org.uk/
And learn more about Elsa and her jewellery work here: https://elsatierney.com/
and
Instagram: @elsatierney
want to find out more about wax carving?
We have a great article for you - ‘A Jewellers Guide to Wax Carving and Casting’ including two FREE courses to give it a try for yourself
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