Jeweler Interview: Gordon K Uyehara

I was really luck this week to be able to interview one of my favorite metal clay artists, Gordon K. Uyehara.   Gordon has been featured in many books and magazines, and has won awards for his designs.

Despite his strong reputation he is surprisingly humble about his work.  In our interview Gordon believes that artists should avoid trying to limit their work by conforming to traditional genres, and confirms the top wish of jeweler's I have interviewed so far of wanting to be able to magically create designs just by the power of thought!  (God, if you are reading this, the public has voted.)

You have been featured in many jewelry magazines. Do you actively pursue promotion?
Not really. I post my work on various sites so it is out there to be seen. Sometimes I submit them to publications but often times I am approached by the staff because they have seen my work.

Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in nature, science fiction art and movies, music, and from other artists.

What is your favorite design that you have created?
I think it is my fossil box but I like the montage of the Rhetoric of Peace.

Do you try to keep yourself challenged and evolve your art, or do you find stability in sticking with what you know?
Both. I want to take what I know further.

You are one of the leading artists working in silver metal clay, what was it like when you first started working in this relatively new medium?
I really wasn't one of the first ones so I don't see myself as a pioneer. Being on an island kind of isolates you. Luckily there was the Web so I could find out what other people were doing. I found out most of what I was doing wasn't very unique.

What keeps you motivated?
Knowing that I haven't achieved my potential.

Can you name another jewelry designer whose work you admire?
There's a lot but I really like David C. Freda's stuff.

Your statement (on his website) is very inspirational. Do you think that artists often self impose limits on their work because of a lack of creative confidence rather than just allowing themselves the freedom of expression and the mistakes and discoveries that come along with it?
Thanks! Yes, absolutely. But as humans we tend to compartmentalize things. When we do that we limit our ideas.

Do you think your background in science spills over into your designs?
A little, but more just my general interest in science. The programming experience helps in putting a step-by-step article into a logical order.

If you could have any jewelry super-power to help you with your jewelry what would it be?
My power would be to just make what I see in my head magically appear - I'd skip the whole construction process. It'd be like "I Dream of Jeanie".

You can see Gordon's work at his website, http://www.honudream.com