Mirinda Kossoff
Though I often work from design drawings to create a finished piece, I sometimes start on a “jewelry journey” without a fixed destination. I enjoy playing with the pieces and finding out where the journey takes me.
I like to experiment with new techniques, such as using resin with fine silver, adding keum boo (applying a layer of 24k gold), and figuring out how to incorporate a vintage piece into something modern and edgy.
Because I like to roam the world of design and fabrication, I rarely make the same piece twice, though I will sometimes create variations of a piece. The one consistent thing about my jewelry is that I make pieces I would want to wear. (And yes, sometimes I have trouble parting with them.)
I work both in sheet metal and PMC (precious metal clay). I am a certified instructor in PMC, which is powdered pure silver mixed with an organic binder. I can work the silver much the way a sculptor works clay, though with certain restrictions. Once I’ve designed and formed a piece, I fire it in a jewelry kiln. The binder burns away and what remains is a solid piece of fine silver. I texture and oxidize my pieces to give them depth and dimension.
I enjoy working both with PMC and sheet metal. The PMC is malleable and tactile while sheet metal is strong and resistant. Each has its challenges and rewards.
