Shahasp Valentine
Precious Metal Clay Jewelry Artist
My jewelry education began at age 13 with a lapidary class, which I very much enjoyed and sparked my already strong interest in jewelry. The following year I enrolled in a jewelry class in which I learned various wax techniques, mold making, casting, finishing and some stone setting. I continued taking classes in jewelry throughout high school and college, in addition to my studies in art and design, fashion, and ceramics. After college I became Fine Jewelry Manager at Macy’s, the youngest fine jewelry manager in Macy’s history at that time. 1991 found me creating jewelry professionally and in 1998 I began working with Precious Metal Clay. The result of my work with PMC was an all Metal Clay jewelry line which I brought to the public in Fall 1999. It was the first all Metal Clay line at the time.
Precious Metal Clay (PMC) has allowed me to create some of the designs I've had in my mind since my first jewelry class many years ago. Specifically my Organic Series work which is very freeform and textural in nature. This new and revolutionary medium has given me the freedom to create the feeling and movement I've always wanted in my work but could not achieve using traditional jewelry techniques.
I am influenced by nature, architecture, costume, finery and ornament of all kinds and virtually every period of history. Also by places I've visited such as Venice, Rome, Athens, Beirut, Cairo, Zurich, Amsterdam, Paris, Edinburgh, and London among others. Travel experiences have greatly influenced my aesthetic and inspired my sense of style from a young age. Additionally the perspectives gained in my background in art, fashion and graphic design shape my vision of jewelry design.
I work in two distinctly different groups, Precieux The Modern Artifacts Collection which is historically inspired and The Organic Series of Naturally Inspired Forms which is nature inspired. I design and create my work of fine silver and 24k gold Precious Metal Clay, precious stones and pearls. I sculpt, carve, trail, mold, push and pull the metal bearing clay into the shapes and forms of my design. Setting stones in the wet clay and firing them in place feels like an ancient process to me, even though it is very modern and a risky proposition. In keeping with the old world and natural feeling I have for the PMC process I purposefully try not to imitate traditionally made jewelry and do all finishing by hand, burnishing and brushing giving the pieces a wonderfully organic rich and ancient quality. Each piece I create is distinctly unique and is signed and numbered and registered to the owner.
Books
Picture Yourself Making Metal Clay Jewelry: Step-by-Step Instruction for Forming, Firing, and Constructing Finished Jewelry, by Tammy Powley, 2008
Best Of America Jewelry Artists & Artisans, Kennedy Publishing, Celechee Necklace #8 and Lady Jessica Choker featured, 2007
Exceptional Work in Precious Metal Clay, Precious Metal Clay Guild, Knife Edge Necklace #17 and Wave Necklace #14 published, October 2007
New Directions in Metal Clay, CeCe Wire, Lark Books, 3 pieces featured, Fall 2007
Metal Clay And Mixed Media Jewelry, Sherri Haab, Watson-Guptill, two pieces featured, February 2007
The Best of California Artists & Artisans, Kennedy Publishing. First Place for Opera Necklace #1 and Honorable Mention for Organic Ring #21, awarded June 2006
Metal Clay Jewelry: Projects. Techniques. Embellishments, Louise Duhamel. How-To chapter authored by Ms. Valentine on her process, features five pieces including the gallery section and back cover, North Light Books, August 2006
The Art and Craft of Making Jewelry, Joanna Gollberg, Lark Books, three pieces featured, May 2006
1000 Rings, Lark Books, Organic Ring #21 featured, June 2004
The Art of Metal Clay, Sherri Haab, Watson-Guptill Publications, four pieces featured in three chapters, January 2004
Craft of Northern California, Alcove Books, two pieces featured, October 2002
. . .
Select Features
Art Jewelry Magazine - Reader Survey, Covers front
and back, additional images inside, February 2008
The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry 2008 Calendar
PMC Supply, 3 Galleries featuring 69 images, May 2007
StudioPMC, Inspired Design, Summer 2006
Art Jewelry Magazine - Reader Survey, Covers front
and back, inside left and right, February 2006
Crafts Business Magazine, January/February 2006
Studio PMC, Cover, Summer 2004
Colored Stone Magazine, March/April 2004
Lapidary Journal Magazine, February 2004
AJM Magazine, June 2003
Studio PMC, Summer 2003 Issue
AJM Magazine, Cover, July 2002
Belle Armoire Art to Wear Magazine, Winter 2001
Studio PMC, Spring 2001
About.com, February 2001
For a additional press please see Features & Accolades
. . .
Awards
First Place for Opera Necklace #1, awarded June 2006, Kennedy Publishing, The Best of California Artists & Artisans
Honorable Mention for Organic Ring #21, awarded June 2006, Kennedy Publishing, The Best of California Artists & Artisans
Nominated for a Rising Star Award by the Women’s Jewelry Association, 2005
Women’s Jewelry Association Grant, awarded 2004
Gold Medal Award, 24kAward Jewelry Awards, February 2003
Honorable Mention awarded for Celechée Necklace #1, Fusion 2001: The Fine Art of Precious Metal Clay - An International Juried Competition and Invitational Show, February 2001
. . .
TV
Crafters Coast to Coast. HGTV, 6 minute feature segment, aired August 2007, March and January 2006, July, March and January 2005, and October 2004
Inside City Limits, four minute feature segment, aired August 2003, February 2002 and December 2000
Inside City Limits, feature on ArtVibe Exhibition with mention and photos of Precieux Jewelry, coverage of both December 2000 and 1999 shows
The Show, feature on ArtVibe Exhibition showing photos of Precieux Jewelry, aired November 2000
The Show, mention of the Featured Artists Exhibition showing photo of Celechée Necklace #1, aired August 2000
Inside City Limits, Precieux necklace worn by gallery owner Kelly Luscombe in interview featuring Holidazed Exhibition at Gallery Luscombe, San Francisco, CA, December 1999
. . .
Gallery Exhibitions
Stewart Center Gallery, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN
57/1: Artists of the PMC Guild Premier Annual May - Aug 08
The Jewelry Studio, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Multiples Nov 06 - Jan 07
Metalworks Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Valentines Invitational Jan - Apr 06
Wearable Art Movement Then and Now Oct - Dec 05
Langman Gallery, Willow Grove PA
Art Jewelry 2005 Nov - Dec 05
Oakland Museum of California Collectors Gallery, Oakland CA
An Exhibition of Metal Art: Wearable, Ornamental
and Artistic Nov 05 - Jan 06
Metal Arts Guild 2004 Exhibition Sept - Oct 04
Gallery M.I.M., Baltimore MD
Secret Identities: Intriguing Wearable Art Oct - Nov 05
Bling, San Francisco CA
Featured Artist Show Oct 05
Long Beach Island Foundation of The Arts and Sciences, Loveladies NJ
2003 Craft Gallery Exhibition June - Oct 03
Artisans Center of Virginia, Waynesboro VA
Positively PMC May - July 03
Folk Tree Collection, Pasadena CA
Bedazzled Apr - May 03
Hearts & Flowers XV Jan - Feb 01
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento CA
Beyond the Mines: The Art of California Gold
Jan - Apr 03
Art Forms Gallery, Red Bank NJ
Valentine's Day Invitational Jan - Feb 03
Holiday Exhibit Nov - Dec 02
Valentine's Day Invitational Jan - Feb 01
Holiday Exhibit Nov - Dec 01
Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield CT
Millennial Metal: The Art of Precious Metal Clay
Aug - Oct 01
Fusion 2001: The Fine Art of Metal Clay - An International Juried Competition and Invitational Show
Honorable Mention awarded February 01
Gallery Luscombe, San Francisco CA
Holiday Exhibition Dec 00
Holidazed Nov 99 - Jan 00
. . .
Authorship
Firing Gemstones in Metal Clay, The Guildletter, February 2007
Metal Clay an Introduction, The Guildletter, October 2006
How-To chapter, Metal Clay Jewelry: Projects. Techniques. Embellishments, by Louise Duhamel, North Light Books, August 2006
Firing Gems in Precious Metal Clay, Art Jewelry Magazine, Fall 2005
Precious Metal Clay, a revolutionary new medium in jewelry, The Women’s Jewelry Association Northern California Chapter Newsletter, January 2005
. . .
Board Appointments & Professional Memberships
Gemological Institute of America Alumni Association
Accredited Jewerly Professional
Golden Gate Alumni Chaper
Metal Arts Guild
Officer of the Board '01 & '02
Precious Metal Clay Guild
Certified Instructor
Society of North American Goldsmiths
Women's Jewelry Association
Officer of the Board, Nothern California Chapter
Vice President '05, '06
Newsletter Publisher and Editor '04, 05, 06
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