Rhona McCallum is a Glasgow based jewellery designer and maker, graduating this year from Edinburgh College of Art's jewellery and silversmithing department. Rhona works with both precious and non-precious metals, introducing colour and texture through the use of uncut stone among other materials.
Artist's Statement
By transforming details of natural forms into linear compositions, I create intricate structures. Layering and repetition of straight lines allows three-dimensional structures and clusters to develop intuitively.
Inspired by lines and surfaces from geological forms and coastal plant life in Scotland, I document these through mixed-media drawing and photography. I interpret textures, both natural and drawn, through processes such as reticulating the surface of the metal. Wire structures enclose found pieces of stone, making use of the features and marks the stone may have. The tactile nature of the layered wire highlights the wild environment of the coastlines visited.
Painting and mark making serves as an important method of documentation, allowing me to connect the images I have researched to the final piece of metalwork through the lines and surfaces achieved. A controlled colour palette, evident in both my jewellery and research work, is in keeping with the natural, worn and earthy tones I find so inspiring.
Further Images
Marram Brooch
(2011) Sterling silver, 18ct yellow gold, stainless steel
Marram II
Neckpiece (2011) Brass, white metal, steel, thread
Panel Brooch
(2011) White metal, brass, stainless steel
Untitled
Neckpiece (2011) Brass, white metal, epoxy putty, slate