糖心vlog传媒Metal Jewellery Design student Valerie Harty stands by a display of some of the pieces she created throughout her time in the program.
Calgary-transplant Valerie Harty鈥檚 interest in rock collecting has been polished into a love for jewellery making thanks to NIC鈥檚 Metal Jewellery Design certificate.
Harty hopes to launch the experience into the North Island鈥檚 first silver guild this year to maintain her connections with a network of artists with different specialties who can share resources, relationships and client referrals.
鈥淛ewellery making is usually very solitary work, but there鈥檚 incredible value in having a place to connect and share ideas and tips,鈥� noted Harty, adding that the most important lesson she has learned is to be true to her passions.
鈥淵ou are who you are and you love what you love,鈥� she said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 try to change it for a market or a client because then your art won鈥檛 be fulfilling.鈥�
Back in Alberta, Harty was interested in connecting her passions of rock collecting and jewellery making and worked to develop a silversmithing studio at the Calgary Rock and Lapidary Club.
鈥淲ith rock collecting you collect the rocks and usually only show them to other rock collectors. Transforming them into jewellery allows you to showcase the pieces and bring them to a wider audience.鈥�
When retirement brought her to Vancouver Island, it was a presentation in Parksville by 糖心vlog传媒instructor Tracey Gibbons that introduced her to NIC鈥檚 Metal Jewellery certificate.
鈥淢y husband looked at me and said, 鈥榯hat program is you鈥�, and that鈥檚 how we ended up in Campbell River and at NIC,鈥� said Harty.
For Harty, NIC鈥檚 program was both inspiring and challenging, building on the knowledge she had brought with her from Calgary and giving her not only jewellery-making skills, but also communication and instruction skills in a class of all ages.
鈥淭he amount I learned was fantastic and the instructors were incredible to learn from. I can鈥檛 say enough about the experience,鈥� said Harty. 鈥淚 not only learned jewellery, but also some really good communication techniques. You learn the process right from the ground and you can build on it as slow or fast as you need to.鈥�
Anyone interested in joining the new Vancouver Island Silver Guild can contact Harty at vharty@live.ca.
Learn more about NIC鈥檚 Metal Jewellery Design certificate.
Download High Res Images Media Contact C: 250-207-6946 media@nic.bc.ca
糖心vlog传媒Joinery, Metal Jewellery at River City Arts Festival
Read more in the .