The saying “Good things come in small packages” applies perfectly to the lovely painted accessories by our featured artist Ali Wieboldt from Newport, Virginia.

Company Name: Ali Wieboldt Jewelry

Preferred Medium: I create jewelry using sterling silver and semi-precious stones, but what makes my work really unique is that I do tiny acrylic paintings and set them as if they were precious stones in the jewelry. The paintings are done on bone, antler, and on some man-made materials, such as Faux Bone.

Favorite Tools? A truly fine tiny sable watercolor brush gets my painting urge going! They are rare and hard to find, but to me are worth almost any price.

What would you call your ‘style’? I paint realistic, scientifically accurate portraits of birds, wildlife and flowers. These are then set in jewelry that is classic and creative…always one-of-a-kind and not derivative.

What are you currently working on? I’m having fun making “habitats” for some of the pieces of jewelry to live in. These are boxes that illustrate more of the story of the creature that is featured in the wearable pin/pendant.

What is a favorite piece of art you created and why? My favorite pieces are the ones that capture the individuality of the creature or flower I have chosen, and the design is successful in capturing just what I have in my head (and on my sketchpad).

What qualities make your art distinctively you? My artwork reflects that I am passionate and knowledgable about Nature and preserving it…that I am a Christ-follower (Many of my pieces open to reveal scriptures from the Bible that relate to the subject of the little paintings) and that I come to jewelry from a painting and drawing background.

Where do you create? My studio is in my home in the countryside in the mountains of Virginia.

Do you sketch or keep an idea journal? Every piece that I make is drawn carefully into a sketchbook since when creating with percious metal one doesn’t want any waste. “Oops, I should have planned that better so I didn’t waste that piece of silver!” However, I don’t do detailed sketches in the book of the paintings I’m going to do.

What do you do when you hit a creative block? My work is a form of worship for me, so prayer is a big part of my design and planning process. I look through photos of animals and birds, look at the lovely stones I have in my collection, spend time reading the Bible and pray about how it all should come together. I keep a list of scriptures that I feel relate to the theme of my work, and these often stimulate an idea for a piece.

What do you listen to when you create? I love to listen to books on tape while I work. I borrow novels from the library and enjoy memoirs and international fiction and non-fiction.

What other things do you like to do creatively? I like to cook and garden. I enjoy knowing where my food has come from and how fresh it is. I don’t think I’m particulary creative in the kitchen, but I rarely use a recipe, or if I do, I never follow it completely…that’s just no fun!

Find more of Ali’s lovely work at her Etsy store. www.etsy.com/shop/AliWieboldtJewelry 

 

Tags:acrylic painting, Ali Wieboldt, painted jewelry