Tamra Gentry, the union of fine metalsmithing with the creativity of Fordite and beautiful gemstones.

http://www.mocashop.com/m-62-tamra-gentry.aspx

“I am inspired by color. I have always had strong, visceral reactions to color. Color is my ‘hook’.”

“Things like texture, design, and pattern are all secondary to me. It’s not that I deem them any less important in the sensory and creative processes—it’s just that they rarely evoke the response in me that color does.”

“Every stone that I use—be it Fordite or a natural gemstone—is selected because something about its color speaks to me at a deep, gut level. It could be one color or a combination of colors. All I know is that my jewelry is all about color” explains Tamra, and this is visible in every design. Her latest ‘hook’ is Fordite, the result of the build-up of layers of auto enamel overspary in the painting bays used in factory auto painting processes back in the 1970s. Each vehicle was painted in an enclosed bay where excess paint accumulated on surrounding fixtures and was cured hundreds of times over. Later it was discovered that the material could be cut and even faceted like traditional gemstones, and proceeded to harvest the layered paint chunks from the old fixtures (hoarding their finds) before new painting processes were put into place. It is now a very efficient process and there is no more excess paint to be had. Now resources are limited, making Tamra’s work even more desirable.

Tamra was recently featured in the February/March 2011 issue of Desert Gold Magazine. She continues to evolve and is always open for new inspiration, as long as it ‘speaks’ to her we will enjoy seeing or having and wearing one of her pieces.

The work of Tamra Gentry is the union of fine metalsmithing with the creativity of Fordite and beautiful gemstones. Experience it all in the online contemporary artisan jewelry store MOCAShop.com!