A necklace by Judith Renstrom

Some months ago, I began working with the Heritage Conservancy, which has been so rewarding and fun.  One of the side benefits of volunteering for a great local organization is meeting new and interesting people.  Judith Renstrom is one of those interesting people.  As we sat in a planning meeting, I couldn't help but notice the modern and distinctive jewelry that Judith wore.  Just being in the same room with her, I sensed that she was an artist.  Later on, one of the other women in the group told me that she in fact was a jewelry designer.  After getting to know Judith a little better, I realized that I just had to share her talent with the BH readers.

Judith Renstrom was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and studied fashion design at Washington University in St. Louis. She furthered her studies in Paris at Ecole De La Chambre Syndicale and came to settle in New York where she worked in the fashion industry for many years. She began metalsmithing at the Baum School of Art in 2002 and has taken workshops with Marne Ryan, Charles Lewton-Brain, Harold O’Connor, Judy Hoch, Arline Fisch and Andy Cooperman, among others. She has developed a unique style using fold forming, fusing and keum boo and integrates her love of textiles by using folds, pleats, ruffles and textures. Her work is featured in The Art And Craft Of Making Jewelry, Gemstones Jewels (Lark Publishing), and a piece of hers was in the Secret Identities show at M.I.M. in Baltimore, juried by Tim McCreight. Judith is on the board of Pennsylvania Society of Goldsmiths. She resides near Springtown in Upper Bucks County, where she also cultivates her art.

Bucks Happening:  Tell us about the path that lead you to becoming a jeweler designer.

Judith Renstrom: I have spent most of my life exploring quite a number of creative directions. Early in my career, I worked in the fashion industry, creating not only couture designs but also the fabric used in the production of this wearable art. Eventually I became a decorative painter sought after for my faux finishes, unique surface treatments, and avant-garde ornamentation.

These prior explorations have greatly influenced my current work as a jeweler and metalsmith. I hand texture my pieces giving the impression that they are made of hand woven fabric. The pleating and folding of the silver, gold, and steel used in my signature bracelets, earrings, and neck pieces further give the feeling of draped material.

Although I have always loved jewelry I never thought about making it until a friend of mine asked me to come with her to a beginning metalsmith class at the Baum School of Art in Allentown. I was a bit reluctant as it wasn't in New York! I went and fell in love with the process and the end result. I was used to designing things as I was a womens wear designer in NYC and also a decorative artist. But it was a whole new skill set I had to develop which included soldering torches, hammers, polishers, lapidary equipment and many others.

BH: How would you describe your style?

JR: My love of decorative painting is evident in my work. When working in metal, instead of oils and acrylics, I have learned to paint with fused gold and a variety of patinas that impart colors ranging from black to cool grays, warm browns, and rusts. Colorful and unusual precious and semi-precious stones are included in most of my pieces to add another level of dimension and complexity.

I work mostly in sterling silver which I texture and patina so it's darkened and I usually add some gold to the pieces. I also use precious and semi-precious stones in many of them. I make pendants, earrings, bracelets and I just beginning to make some jewelry for men.

BH:  What inspires you?

JR: Often it is jewelry from the past. The Art Deco is a particular favorite of mine.

BH:  Tell us about your jump from hobby to business.  Where can we buy a Judith Renstrom original?

It has been a gradual process from hobby to business. What I like about the craft business is that you can make it as big or as small as you like. In this area, my jewelry is sold at the Greene and Greene Gallery in Lambertville and I will also be in a show at Allentown Art Museum called Cocktails and Collecting the first Saturday in November. People can contact me by emailing me at jerenstrom@verizon.net.

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