Jewelry Designer Catherine Hysell

Is it true you began designing jewelry fairly recently? When, and how did you happen onto this creative endeavor?

Yes, I only began this design career in earnest about four years ago. Although I studied fine arts in undergraduate school, I choose clinical social work as my profession, and enjoyed that work until coming down with CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) which was ultimately so disabling I was no longer able to work. It was during that long period of disability that I began to ponder my future, and in an effort to get my creative juices flowing and think more "out of the box," I took a two-hour beading class. It wasn't long before the pieces I designed for myself found their way to retail stores and galleries.

Do you design for yourself, or do you find that you design according to what seems to be in vogue at the moment?

I design for myself. In fact, my designs often run counter to what is currently in fashion because I prefer things that are a bit different than the norm.

What would you say defines your style? Or, rather, what makes your pieces unique?

Others have told me that my designs and my color combinations are unusual. I like to shake things up, to see something familiar in a new light. So I tend to mix beautiful, classic materials with something kind of funky, like an odd color, resulting in a design that others have described as earthy, yet refined.

What sort of process do you go through when you're designing a new piece of jewelry?

When I sit down to design a piece, I stop thinking and let the creativity flow through me - I get out of my own way. I am usually drawn to a particular color at that moment and I begin to pull stones or beads that are complimentary, and I start there - with the color. I also keep a notepad by my bed because I will often dream about a design, or "see" a completed piece just as I am waking up.

Do you design with a collection in mind, or do you design "as you go"?

My designs are typically either one-of-a-kind, or only one of about six or eight because I get bored producing the same thing over and over. I guess you'd say I design as I go since my next piece is always an attempt to do something different. But I have noticed that over time, the evolution of my designs fall into several categories: a delicate ethereal look done on silk cord; more earthy, organic gemstones; and gallery pieces which I would call wearable art.

If someone were interested in pursuing jewelry-making as a hobby or a career, beside a keen sense of style and creativity, what other attributes would you say are important?

For a career: perseverance. And I guess that happens rather naturally when you love what you are doing. You can't help but keep doing it. There are so many talented artists out there; the competition is fierce. It's helpful if you can identify what is unique about you and then express it to the n-th degree.

Lastly, where do you look for inspiration?

I'm influenced by a number of things and people. I'm very aware of the incredible colors, patterns, and textures I see in nature, especially rocks and leaves. I'm also fascinated with East India - their designs are always intricate, symmetrical, as well as organic. Finally, I've always had the advantage of coming from very creative parents - my mother, a gifted artist, and amazing colorist, as well as my father, an extremely accomplished architect, are both unending reservoirs of talent, and a constant inspiration for me.

more information can be found at catherinehysell.com