This beautiful area of Southwestern Mexico borders the Pacific, and is known for
its rugged yet isolating terrain. This terrain has protected and preserved several
indigenous people and cultures such as
the Apotecs and the Mixtecs. This rich culture has influenced Linda and her designs.
“Mexico is full of saturated, bright colors
that inspire me to be a bit bolder. I've
also been sketching a variety of popular
Mexican motifs such as flowers and birds.
I think you are going to see some of these
crop up in my ceramic pendants when I
get back home. I've also purchased some
beads and woven materials that I've never
seen in the States.”
This infusion of color is central to Linda’s
design process. “Creating a rich and interesting color palette is always my first
goal when designing jewelry. Including a
variety of textures and shapes is important
to me, as well.” Linda is also inspired by the
many colors seen locally in nature there
in Oaxaca. “My love of nature comes into
play with many floral and animal motifs.”
She says that her style has developed over
time, and that once she saw Bohemian
designs she never looked back. “I started
out designing with mostly gemstones and
sterling silver. The work was pretty, but in
a more traditional way. Boho style jewelry
design was an evolving phenomenon at
that time and I was smitten at once! I love
the freedom, earthiness and innovation of
boho style jewelry. My color sense developed over time, as well. I was interested
in color when I started beading in the mid
1990's, but I was a bit afraid of it too. So I
took a few color theory classes, started a
color journal and did further study on my
own. Color play is now my favorite part
of designing and it's the first thing most
people associate with my work.” Linda’s
designs have really come into their own
with their bohemian flare and pops of
bright color.
Linda told me that her overall process
hasn’t really changed being down in
Mexico. “I usually start with an art bead
and design around it. I do have to do
more creative problem solving here, because of my limited supplies. I may need
to use a different color than I would have
otherwise, or find my way around a lack
of tools. For example, I wanted to make
some texture plates, but didn't have 2 part
molding compound, so I made some salt
dough clay. It remains to be seen if that
will work to impress into stoneware clay or
not. But, is seemed worth a try.”
One thing that is different is sketching
designs that she wants to use once she’s
back home. “I've never done any sketching before, but I brought a sketch book
with me and have been doodling some
designs. I've transferred some of those
designs to foam scratch board which is
a fairly new material to me. I'm looking
forward to using some of these Mexican
inspired designs in my stoneware pendants.”
I asked Linda what she took with her as
her ‘must haves’ travel tools and materials. And she told me, "I only took the most
crucial tools: flat and round nosed pliers,
cutters, crimping pliers and wire straightening pliers. To help narrow things down
a bit, I took a limited color palette, mostly
purples and turquoise, with some blue. I
brought some art beads in these colors.
I took lots of wire, thinking I