Member Spotlight - Lisa Lockhart

 

Lisa earned her bachelors degree in Industrial Design at Purdue University and also studied digital art at College of DuPage. While at COD, she learned of the silversmith program offered in the art department and began taking classes. Thus her love of creating jewelry and specifically working with silver and other materials evolved. But while jewelry became her focus, she also had developed a foundation in other hand arts over the years. Lisa’s mother made Lisa’s Halloween costumes each year and wrote poetry.  Her mother also liked doing interior design and periodically repainted and rearranged furniture in their house. Lisa sewed and created clothing as well. Lisa was also attracted to different kinds of hand arts including knitting, crochet and tatting. She learned to tat at Blackberry Farm in Aurora. Tatting is a very detailed and demanding process, and Lisa credits the patient teacher she had at Blackberry for teaching her the basics. Lisa liked to research each process she encountered and strove to find how she could add her personal touch to the work. As she progressed with her tatting, she experimented with beading and decided to add beads to her work. She then explored machine knitting and bead weaving. Initially, she was intrigued with “right angle” bead weaving but eventually moved on.

As Lisa developed her jewelry skills she began collecting books about jewelry. Reading her many books, some of which were out of print, provided a reference library of techniques and examples. She even found books written in Russian and Japanese that were helpful as she could look at the photographs and illustrations to provide new ideas.

Lisa found that taking Zoom jewelry classes from instructors from around the country provided more inspiration and information that she could use in her work. She especially enjoyed taking a class from Bullseye Glass in Portland, Oregon. Lisa also found helpful instruction more close to home. She learned “pick soldering” from a Native American woman she met in Geneva. The process involved using a graphite rod that facilitated a more precise control of the materials.

Lisa participated in a critique at Macy’s Department Store in Chicago where the jewelry staff provided feedback about her collection of work. She found the critique very helpful as they reviewed her diverse work and suggested that she concentrate on creating a cohesive collection within her inventory of work. Lisa decided to focus on pendants, earrings and bracelets. She also was encouraged to continue working with pure silver, which she enjoys.

When we asked Lisa what other classes she has taken at Fine Line, she mentioned Fused Glass with Amy Simpson. She likes glass since it provides a chance to add color to her work. She currently likes to work with stones, sea glass, river stones, and found objects that she uses to create molds to create organic forms for her jewelry. She is looking forward to taking the lapidary classes when there are openings in this new program at Fine Line. Lisa has also volunteered with artisan shows at Fine Line. 

In parting, Lisa invites everyone to attend Uncommon Threads to see and buy beautiful hand crafted work and to get a preview of the work that will be available in the Christmastime at Fine Line Artisan Gift Sale!