Barbara S. Fernald
P.O. Box 57
Islesford, Maine 04646
Telephone: 207 244-5283
E-Mail: fernald244@gmail.com
Artist’s Statement and Background:
I live on a very small island where the main industry is lobster fishing. I make jewelry because it is the most fun way to provide a job for myself. I love working with my hands and having a wearable outlet for my art. Beads are a large component of my work, and I use handmade beads whenever I can. Much of my recent work is with silver in a form known as Precious Metal Clay (PMC). This is a moldable silver developed by Mitsubishi Materials, in Japan, in 1994. Microscopic particles of pure silver are suspended in a pliable organic binder. When fired in a kiln at high temperatures (900 degrees C), the binder burns out leaving only precious metal. With PMC I am able to create my own unique beads from silver without any tedious soldering. My goal is to keep expanding my knowledge of PMC to make beads that would be either too time consuming or impossible to fabricate from silver sheet.
I often notice the lines and angles in my surroundings before I see the color. Shadows and edges are eye-catching to me. The pattern made by an incidental placement of tools can inspire my next piece of work. My designs are influenced by this random simplicity, beaches near my home, my sense humor, and the latest techniques I have learned.
Jewelry education:
1965 to 1970 – Ruining more than one pair of my mother’s good eyebrow tweezers to make necklaces of beaded wire links, mussel shells and macramé. Rochester, New York.
1975 – Silver class, Earl Pardon, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York.
1979 to 1981 – Bench worker for Caswell Samuel, Islesford, Maine.
1982 – Silver granulation and reticulation course, John Cogswell, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts,Deer Isle, Maine.
1983 to 2005 – Self taught, Islesford.
1985 – Silver Wire workshop, Mary Lee Hu, Haystack.
1986 – Silver Casting class, J. Fred Woell, Deer Isle, Maine.
1988 – Forging workshop, Ronald Pearson, Haystack.
1989 – Stamping, Chasing, Tool Making, Tim McCreight, Haystack
1993 – Polymer Clay workshop, Steven Ford and David Forlano, Haystack.
1998 – Precious Metal Clay class, J. Fred Woell, Deer Isle.
2003 – Precious Metal Clay, Teacher Certification class, J. Fred Woell, Deer Isle.
2004 – Keum-boo workshop, Jayne Redman, Haystack.
2005 – Precious Metal Clay bead workshop, J. Fred Woell, Deer Isle.
Work on display and for sale at:
Archipelago Gallery, Rockland, Maine.
Alone Moose Gallery, Bar Harbor, Maine.
Winters Work, Islesford, Maine.
Whale’s Rib, Great Cranberry Island, Maine.
Publications:
PMC Guild Annual #3 Exceptional Work in Metal Clay: 2009
The Working Waterfront ”Cranberry Report” (monthly newspaper column)
Memberships:
Maine Crafts Association
Precious Metal Clay Guild
Awards:
Saul Bell Design Award 2006. Second place winner PMC category.
Saul Bell Design Award 2009. Finalist PMC category.
Shows:
15 Maine Jewelers at Shaw Gallery, Northeast Harbor, ME. 2006.
Maine Public Broadcast Network, 2009 Annual T.V. Auction, Juried Art Show
Dear Barbara,
I like your work and want to see it in person.
I was wondering if you will be at the Craft fair tomorrow at Atlantic Oaks or nearby in the weeks ahead.
I would like to look at your earrings. When is Alone Moose Gallery open?
Thanks, Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for checking out my work. Yes I will be at the fair tomorrow and Saturday at Atlantic Oaks. I will have lots of earrings there. Hope you stop by! Alone Moose Gallery is only open from June through October. The only place I have work at this time of year is at Archipelago gallery in Rockland. But keep checking this site this winter. I plan to have an Etsy shop up and running and you will be able to link to it from this site.
Barb
Neat stuff!!!! I especially like the necklaces with Island stones and white or silver pearls. I made a few lost wax gold things in dental school and it was fun. I will be in touch old friend. Eric
Hey Spmort!
I just sent you an e-mail, telling you about the blog, but you already found it! Cool. Some family pics coming up soon I hope.
Are your kids all grown up? Mine are!
WOW. was just checking your profile. i went to Colby College so am familiar with Haystack. Congrats on your Saul Bell awards. I will be honored to have something made by you.
It also means I’ll be using PVC items in my jewelry
Just checked out your etsy shop and love your jewelry! The textures really speak to me. I’m going to treat myself, since I’m gearing up for reconstruction surgery after a long summer battling breast cancer; just have to decide which piece I love the most! Congrats on Freshly Pressed; I’m brand new to the blogging world and love seeing the variety of blogs out there.
So, I just delayed my work of adding some new pieces to my Etsy shop, thanks to your honest and hilarious blog. I’ve been reading it for the last half hour. I believe you would be a survivor of anything with a sense of humor like that. Though, what you have been going through is no laughing matter. I’m so glad you left a reply on my blog, so I could find my way to yours. Thank you!
xo Barb
Hi there
I recently discovered precious metal clay. I have also always wanted to work with silver. Do you give classes? If not, do you know who does? (besides in Connecticut?)
Many thanks
Stell
Hi Stell,
Sorry it took me so long to respond to your comment. I don’t teach any classes myself, but I have taken quite a few and they always help in gaining technical knowledge and seeing how someone else works with PMC. If you can afford it, you could look into taking one of the Rio Rewards certification classes. The certificate class is a good way to learn some basics from Rio- approved teachers who have been working for a long time with PMC. You also get a discount on PMC and related supplies. Here’s more info about it and a schedule of classes, from their web site: http://www.riorewards.com/schedule.asp If you live in Maine there’s a good chance to take a class from Tim McCreight in Scarboro. I hope this gives you an idea.
Good luck. I love working with PMC. (I don’t love what the price of silver is doing.)
xoxo Barb