Resin is a technique that I have been dying to try for ages, and looking at the colorful creations from designer Mary Draper Murray, I am itching to start ordering supplies.  Her work features a variety of freeform and geometric shapes combined with sparkling, swirling resin fills.  She also has an interesting sterling silver collection inspired by Dr Seuss! Here, she talks to The Jewelry Report about her work...

How did you first get into jewelry art in general?

My background is in painting and weaving. At a weavers guild meeting I learned how to weave ribbon and washers into necklaces, in the style of Anni Albers of the Bauhaus Design Movement. I was intrigued and was soon experimenting with a variety of metals. I was hooked. My weaving studio slowly morphed into a metals studio and I found my artistic niche.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

I love experimenting with color and mixing my own pigment. Organic shapes are my favorite. When my kids were little we would play a game where they would draw a squiggly line or crazy shape on a piece of paper and I would turn it into a creature or part of a whole scene (this worked especially well on the back of placemats while waiting in restaurants.) When I experiment with bezel wire while creating new pieces, I often think of that. It brings a bit of whimsy to my jewelry.

What is your favorite design, and is this your best seller?

Letting Go is a very special piece. To me, it is a celebration of release and it's one of my most popular pieces of jewelry. It resonates with people and means something different to each of them.

Can you tell us more about the themes that run through your jewelry?

Just like my paintings, each piece of jewelry I make has special meaning. It is inspired by what we, as women, go through in our lives. What makes us strong, what connects us and what brings us joy. I name my pieces: Strong Heart, Brave Heart, Letting Go. Each has a story that inspired it, but each piece also ends up with a second story - a story by the person who wears it.

What do you have planned for future collections?

One of my future lines will include pieces that are larger and have more intricate designs. I'll also be incorporating some new materials and pigments in upcoming work.

Do you get more excited about the design or technical aspects of jewelry art?

I love learning new metalsmithing techniques and I do enjoy designing new pieces. Once the physical work gets under way and I start bending wire, cutting silver and mixing pigment the design takes on a life of its own. One is interdependent upon the other, it's hard to separate the two.

Can you name another jewelry designer whose work you admire?

Sydney Lynch's work is inspiring. Beautiful, organic, graceful. Lulu Smith makes some of the best resin jewelry that I've ever seen. Her colors are luscious.

Do you find the process of experimentation frustrating or inspiring?

It depends on whether the experiment is working or not! It's inspiring when I learn something new from the experiment - whether that is from a success or a colossal mistake.

That said, sometimes when I am experimenting I just want to hurry up and finish the piece so I can see what worked and what didn't and start again on the newer version. Many times I just want to get over that learning curve and move on.

If you could have any jewelry super-power to help you with your jewelry what would it be?

Hmmmm….. An extra set of hands that I could use to continue working while I soaked my own tired hands in a soothing, warm paraffin bath.

You can find out more about Mary Draper Murray, and view her gallery of designs at her website,  http://www.marydrapermurray.com