"I love making jewelry. The qualities of precious metals and gemstones, the challenge of labor-intensive fabrication techniques, and the feel of jewelry on the body fascinate me."
Susan Saul brings her multi-disciplinary experience in costume design, etching, painting and mixed media art to her studio jewelry. Inspired by ancient techniques and modern design, she translates her joy of working with metals and stones into wearable art that is hard to categorize.
As a metal-smithing instructor, Susan has shared her enthusiasm for the craft for 20+ years in her jewelry classes and workshops at the Spruill Center for the Arts in Dunwoody, Georgia. Susan was also deeply involved in the re-vitalization of the Georgia Goldsmiths Group, now called MAGG (Metal Arts Guild of Georgia), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the education and support of metal artists and the greater community.
Susan lives in Atlanta with her husband Steven and her two feline studio assistants. Her jewelry is available through this website or by appointment, until normal show and gallery activities resume.
How I work
What is Bimetal? Bimetal refers to a material that is composed of two separate metals fused together, rather than melted and mixed together, as alloys are. I use sterling/gold bimetal in either 18 or 22K. The layer of gold is fused to the silver, and is thick enough to withstand wear. The silver layer beneath will not oxidize through the gold, unlike plated pieces. This material enables me to add the richness of gold at a much lower cost than solid sheet, but is very stable.
What techniques do I use? I’m a fabricator. That means that I construct my designs from metal sheet and wire in a variety of shapes and gauges. I will often alter the surface or deform the metal so that it doesn’t resemble the original material. It’s a time consuming method that I greatly enjoy. Some sheets of metal are hammered, run through a specialized mill, stamped, chased, or etched in a chemical solution to impart interesting textures. Most pieces are finished with chemical oxidation.
Handmade Chains and Clasps I make a variety of chains in either sterling (.925) or fine silver (.999) Fine silver is softer than sterling, and lends itself to a number of weaving techniques. Many of my necklaces incorporate removable pendants so that the chains may be worn alone or with other pendants. Clasps are designed to enhance or blend in with the overall design.