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Artisan Jewelry
Ivan L. Schuster
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Although my formal university training was in archeology, anthropology & folklore, my calling was always jewelry making. I grew up in a family w/ great appreciation for art & my father was always a jewelry designer.
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I studied w/ masters in San Miguel, including Enrique Lopez (who taught for many years at the Instituto Allende) and Peter Hechtman who was a master of enameled jewelry.
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In the U.S., I studied w/ Harold O' Connor, world renowned in the art of creative surface textures on jewelry. In total, I have been a creative silver & goldsmith for over 25 years.
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Some of the techniques I use include hammering, repousse, roller mill texturing,
torch texturing, reticulation, granulation, enameling, punch stamping, fusing gold over silver and riveting.
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In the beginning much of my jewelry was inspired by the art nouveau and arts & crafts movements as well as the aesthetics of Asian art.
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"I try to incorporate structural ideas of famous architects and designers such as Charles Rennie MacIntosh, Josef Hofmann, Luis Barragan, Ricardo Legoretto and Alexander Calder.
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Currently, I am working on a series of pieces inspired by the creation of the universe (pictured below). My designs are based on The Big Bang Theory, black holes and other stellar events.
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I always try to push the silver and gold to see how far they will let me go.
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My greatest honor has been commissions for making jewelry for weddings, special events and remembrances.
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I hope my jewelry has touched the hearts of those who wear it, as the pieces have touched mine!"
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