Precious ThingsDecember 2022 The year 2022 was full of surprises, including some unusual jewelry projects that came my way. One day in November, I received a call from a woman who asked me if I could use shards from a broken wineglass to create two pendants, set in sterling silver, as a special Christmas gift for her partner and herself. This kind of thing is definitely in my wheelhouse, but I’m not a glass-worker, so I told her that if she could find someone to melt the glass into cabochon shapes, I could make the necklaces. I thought nothing more of it, until a week later, when this lovely person showed up at the gallery with two glass “gems” (complete with bubbles inside), ready to talk about the project. Her enthusiasm was so infectious that we easily agreed on a simple design and pricing, and I got to work at my bench. Often, I will apprise customers of my progress via photos and text messages, and such was the case here. I named the project, appropriately, “Love Bubbles.” The whole process went smoothly and the two necklaces were delivered well in time for the holiday. There are two lessons that came to mind while doing this work. First, what is broken can be transformed into something beautiful. And second, what is precious to someone need not have intrinsic value to be meaningful. I’m so very grateful to be able to help others to manifest their creative ideas with my skills, and sincerely wish a very happy, healthy and fulfilling 2023 to all!
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Even if you missed the “Summer of Love,” my newest collection of whimsical pieces in sterling and 18K gold bimetal will take you back to another time. Inspired by bold graphic designs from the 60’s and 70’s, these fun and simple flower forms are meant to evoke carefree summer fun. Check out the pendants, anklets and rings the next time you visit the gallery. Don’t see your size? Ask about resizing or made-to-order pieces. Can’t wait to see you at Aimee Jewelry and Fine Art Gallery this summer! Susan Saul GOT GOLD? |
 Cyndi’s Ring -- original gold wedding band transformed into statement ring with silver and diamonds |  Grandma’s Beads -- restrung with new handmade clasp, fresh-water pearls, amazonite |
Welcome to Susan's World
Connection, to me, is a vital aspect of being a maker. Whether creating for a client or for my own inventory, my hand-fabricated pieces each embody my energy and intention as a maker, yet only come truly alive on the wearer. It brings
me great pleasure to see this happen. As to what moves me, I find beauty in forms and colors everywhere, especially patterns found in nature and architecture. This has led me to accumulate a rather large palette of unique and graphic gemstones to create with and be inspired by. The gems act as a counterpoint to the various metals I work with.
If there is any one concept that inspires and infuses my work it is the expression of the feminine divine in the physical world. We humans are compelled to adorn ourselves in one way or another. Why not do so with objects that enhance the quality of our lives, expressing energies of compassion, beauty, and wholeness?
I was truly fortunate that my upbringing fostered my imagination and an appreciation for the arts. Back then, “screen time” was limited to a few tv shows each week, phones were attached to walls, and playing outside was encouraged. Indoors, there were a treasure trove of art supplies and a well-stocked “dress-up”trunk to occupy me and my sisters. Many of our “games” were scenarios we dreamt up and acted out. Of course it was all about the costumes...some things haven’t changed.
Our family often attended cultural events, theaters, and museums. The Baltimore museum, not far from our home, boasted one of the largest collections of Matisse paintings in the country. My parents owned a massive set of full-color museum books that I loved to pore over on rainy days. With our mom, we experimented with a wide range of crafts including sewing, leather, macrame, paper flowers, string art, collage and more. I wrote and drew a lot, and made my own paper dolls, with outfits I designed myself. At some point, we started taking Sunday drives in the nearby countryside in search of interesting antiques. On these trips, I became a collector of vintage beads, costume jewelry and clothing.
I’ve always been a maker. Although my arts education was focused on costume design, printmaking and painting, a fascination with baubles and intricate hand-craft has remained with me throughout. Before I ever dreamed of picking up a torch, I had, at various times made jewelry from paper, macrame, antique beads, and found objects.
After ten years as a studio artist in 2D media, I decided to learn metalsmithing for jewelry making. The thing that appealed to me so much back then was the chance to play with FIRE, to make beautiful and lasting objects, to ponder and engineer all the intricate details of a design. I still love those things, not to mention that I get to use an awful lot of cool tools!
I’m excited to now be working with Amy at Aimee Jewelry and Gallery, and look forward to sharing my unique perspective with other art lovers in the community.
Susan Saul
August 2021
Connection, to me, is a vital aspect of being a maker. Whether creating for a client or for my own inventory, my hand-fabricated pieces each embody my energy and intention as a maker, yet only come truly alive on the wearer. It brings
me great pleasure to see this happen. As to what moves me, I find beauty in forms and colors everywhere, especially patterns found in nature and architecture. This has led me to accumulate a rather large palette of unique and graphic gemstones to create with and be inspired by. The gems act as a counterpoint to the various metals I work with.
If there is any one concept that inspires and infuses my work it is the expression of the feminine divine in the physical world. We humans are compelled to adorn ourselves in one way or another. Why not do so with objects that enhance the quality of our lives, expressing energies of compassion, beauty, and wholeness?
I was truly fortunate that my upbringing fostered my imagination and an appreciation for the arts. Back then, “screen time” was limited to a few tv shows each week, phones were attached to walls, and playing outside was encouraged. Indoors, there were a treasure trove of art supplies and a well-stocked “dress-up”trunk to occupy me and my sisters. Many of our “games” were scenarios we dreamt up and acted out. Of course it was all about the costumes...some things haven’t changed.
Our family often attended cultural events, theaters, and museums. The Baltimore museum, not far from our home, boasted one of the largest collections of Matisse paintings in the country. My parents owned a massive set of full-color museum books that I loved to pore over on rainy days. With our mom, we experimented with a wide range of crafts including sewing, leather, macrame, paper flowers, string art, collage and more. I wrote and drew a lot, and made my own paper dolls, with outfits I designed myself. At some point, we started taking Sunday drives in the nearby countryside in search of interesting antiques. On these trips, I became a collector of vintage beads, costume jewelry and clothing.
I’ve always been a maker. Although my arts education was focused on costume design, printmaking and painting, a fascination with baubles and intricate hand-craft has remained with me throughout. Before I ever dreamed of picking up a torch, I had, at various times made jewelry from paper, macrame, antique beads, and found objects.
After ten years as a studio artist in 2D media, I decided to learn metalsmithing for jewelry making. The thing that appealed to me so much back then was the chance to play with FIRE, to make beautiful and lasting objects, to ponder and engineer all the intricate details of a design. I still love those things, not to mention that I get to use an awful lot of cool tools!
I’m excited to now be working with Amy at Aimee Jewelry and Gallery, and look forward to sharing my unique perspective with other art lovers in the community.
Susan Saul
August 2021
 Darn Cuff  Susan Saul  Sonoran Sunrise Earrings |  Custom Ring Sketch  Tourmaline Dream Necklace  Enchanted Forest Ring |
The sight of an abandoned mattress invites us to reflect on our throwaway culture — and to think of those who have no mattress to rest on or secure place to call home.
This exhibition invites you to do something about it.
Join us for a curated selection of images by Audrey Galex and her Abandoned Mattress Project on view and available for purchase at Aimee Jewelry and Gallery, January 23rd - January 31st, 2020.
Your purchases will support the Initiative for Affordable Housing, which helps metro Atlanta families overcome housing insecurity with comprehensive social services. http://www.affordablehousingatl.org/
This exhibition invites you to do something about it.
Join us for a curated selection of images by Audrey Galex and her Abandoned Mattress Project on view and available for purchase at Aimee Jewelry and Gallery, January 23rd - January 31st, 2020.
Your purchases will support the Initiative for Affordable Housing, which helps metro Atlanta families overcome housing insecurity with comprehensive social services. http://www.affordablehousingatl.org/
We would like to introduce Joel Barr - an Atlanta artist who has been showing at the gallery almost from its inception. He's participated in our group shows with themes from abstract art to food-related works. We are proud that his solo show for us, LIFE LINES and OTHER STORIES included an 11-piece original, sequential, and narrative work painted just for the exhibition. In addition to the shows here, he also presented an evening gallery talk on "The Artful Life." We've asked him to speak briefly about that life and about his current work.
"I've been an oil painter for over 25 years and am still happily exploring what oils can do. I love their history and the connection they provide to artists across time. I sculpt as well and always finish those works with oil painting.
I know that I am one of the lucky ones and an incredibly grateful for that. Most every day, I get to go to my studio and disappear into its world full of art and stories. For me, those things are inseparable.
Each day, I look for a shape, a color, or a quick peek at something new. That creative spark may come from something outside me - the play of sunshine on water maybe or the weaving of notes in a ballad that is new to me. It might also be generated from inside - a memory of Florida shies in winter or the look on my dog's face when he first realizes that a treat is at hand. That smell hint of insight or mystery is what I will build on in my art.
In the end, what I want to do is to share that bit of news I've somehow discovered. I hope my art - paintings or sculpture - will be a prod for viewers to broaden the story. What happened before this scene? What happens afterwards? When all is working right, that story will change and be enriched each time the viewer sees the work.
Right now, I'm excited about the interplay of the written and visual arts. I come to painting with a writing background and find that I'm returning, after over two decades, to writing as part of my daily creative life. Words have been finding their way into my paintings, sometimes directly and sometimes with more subtlety.
At the heart of all my work is a story. For me, everyone and everything carries a story and, along with those who see my art, I am forever curious to hear that story, to fill in the parts I cannot know, and to share this experience in what I create."
"I've been an oil painter for over 25 years and am still happily exploring what oils can do. I love their history and the connection they provide to artists across time. I sculpt as well and always finish those works with oil painting.
I know that I am one of the lucky ones and an incredibly grateful for that. Most every day, I get to go to my studio and disappear into its world full of art and stories. For me, those things are inseparable.
Each day, I look for a shape, a color, or a quick peek at something new. That creative spark may come from something outside me - the play of sunshine on water maybe or the weaving of notes in a ballad that is new to me. It might also be generated from inside - a memory of Florida shies in winter or the look on my dog's face when he first realizes that a treat is at hand. That smell hint of insight or mystery is what I will build on in my art.
In the end, what I want to do is to share that bit of news I've somehow discovered. I hope my art - paintings or sculpture - will be a prod for viewers to broaden the story. What happened before this scene? What happens afterwards? When all is working right, that story will change and be enriched each time the viewer sees the work.
Right now, I'm excited about the interplay of the written and visual arts. I come to painting with a writing background and find that I'm returning, after over two decades, to writing as part of my daily creative life. Words have been finding their way into my paintings, sometimes directly and sometimes with more subtlety.
At the heart of all my work is a story. For me, everyone and everything carries a story and, along with those who see my art, I am forever curious to hear that story, to fill in the parts I cannot know, and to share this experience in what I create."
 "Quilt of Water Final" |  "Pond" |
