Aurora Borealis Earrings, copper fired to create colors, Sterling silver earwires, Earring drop 2 inches

Robert grew up in Branford, CT, a beautiful coastal town. He was a regular Tom Sawyer loving fishing, birding, and nature in general. He also knew from an early age, that he was mechanically inclined and chose vocational training as a machinist which he followed for the entirety of his working life. While at a Craft Fair where his wife indulged her love of earrings, he realized he could make those for her, and so began his journey which included taking metal smithing classes. He now uses many of his machinist skills on a smaller scale – cutting, shaping, pressing, rolling, deburring, etc.

Interpretation rather than duplication of natural phenomenon is his goal. Copper is a very expressive medium through which he communicates the inspiration Nature offers. Sawing, hammering, bending, twisting and forming it into his own visions. For color he uses patinas, natural oxidation, dyes and heat to name just a few.

Kelsey appreciates the creative inspiration of his wife whose love of hand-crafted jewelry unknowingly inspired the direction of his retirement. Robert shows his jewelry at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.