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Slip into the Turquoise

Posted on July 20, 2008 by Stuart Kerty Filed Under Abstract, Handmade, Native American, Silver | Leave a Comment

Ric Charlie is an accomplished Navajo artist and jewelry designer of the Tsi’naajínii (Black-Streaked-Wood People) and Tábaahá  (Edgewater) clans of Arizona.  Ric’s mastery as a silversmith adds a level of jewelry-like quality to his belt buckles and he has taken the craft of Tufa stone casting to a whole new level.

Tufa is compressed rock made of porous volcanic ash used to make high quality cast jewelry.  The Tufa stone is sliced in half and the intricate design is carved into one side and the two halves are then joined back together and molten sterling silver is pored through the sprue hole into the casting cavity. This technique enables very detailed designs and imparts a unique texture from the coarse rock. 

Sedona Indian Jewelry offers some beautiful examples of Ric’s work that exemplify what a master can produce from this technique.  High quality Royston Turquoise, Blue Diamond Turquoise, and Lapis stones are inlaid in polished silver framing that makes them stand out from the color and texture of the traditional Navajo geometric shapes beneath them.  

And a rarity in belt buckles, Ric has cast a design on the reverse depicting the sun, clouds, and buttes of the Arizona desert.  While only a very few people will ever know what is on the back of your belt buckle, this extra measure of detail demonstrates the true artistry of this Ric Charlie’s work.

Buckle of Shards

Posted on July 13, 2008 by Stuart Kerty Filed Under Abstract, Artistic, Handmade, Special Buckles, Video | Leave a Comment

Paul Pearman boasts a wide variety of creative talents, including graphic design, sculpture, stained glass, painting and mosaics.  He even made a living for a while knocking off the work of Van Gogh.   Inspired by art nouveau and impressionist styles, he carefully places the glass in his mosaics to emulate the movement and direction of brush strokes.   In addition to cut glass, he embellishes his work with semi-precious stones and exotic materials including coral, opals, turquoise, emeralds, jasper, ancient shark’s teeth, and the occasional carved skull.

Just as the impressionist masters before him, before art, Pearman started out as a kick boxer and a skateboarder.  He captured the 1989 Guinness World Record for the jumping his skateboard over 26 barrels, snatching the record away from the previous title holders, Renoir and Monet, who purportedly turned to painting to console themselves over their loss.

Anyway, back to belt buckles.  Paul was caught off guard by the success of his custom-designed mosaic belt buckles, which have garnered placement in high-end boutiques and galleries and attracting celebrity clients who pay from $500 to $3500 for his work.  The response has created an endless workload for him, trapping him in self-described “belt buckle purgatory” in his basement studio, as he scrambles to keep up with demand.   What the video below for the back story.

So visit New School Mosaics if you would like to own one of these unique creations or simply because you think it would be cool to keep Paul toiling away in his basement a little longer.

Tangerine Trees and Marmalade Skies

Posted on July 2, 2008 by Stuart Kerty Filed Under Abstract, Fashion, Floral | Leave a Comment

Does your life need a little more hustle and a lot more groovy?  Do you think Peter Max makes Keith Haring look like Mark Rothko? 

If you are trying to quell the psychedelic flashbacks in your head and find the perfect buckle for your bellbottom hip-huggers, then boogie on down to So Absolutely Fabulous. Their Sugarluxe Banana Split buckle will help you face the Age of Aquarius with some happening vibes.  The limited edition, quality cast, lead-free, pewter belt buckles are crystallized with Swarovski Crystals for extra-sparkly flower power when you need it most. 

Can you dig it?

Nature Girl’s Kaleidoscope Eyes

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Stuart Kerty Filed Under Abstract, Artistic, Fashion, Floral, Photographic, Women's | Leave a Comment

Nature Girl Designs was created as its founder strove to combine her love of photography and nature.  Their astoundingly beautiful buckles are hand-crafted in their red barn in Connecticut.  Sure, they could do it in the garage, the living room, or the factory down the street, but doesn’t “barn” sound so much more quaint and rustic?   

Their vibrantly colorful, no-two-alike designs are created using a spin casting process that captures the crystalline geometry of a kaleidoscope and the free form splashes of tie-dye.  Brightly-hued thermoset resins and plastics are spun at high speed to allow centrifugal force to create the unique symmetrical designs.  Choose from large or small ovals or scroll buckle designs in antiqued pewter or brass.

Nature Girl can help you add a flourish of luminous color to your spring wardrobe.  The only problem will be choosing from so many wonderful designs.

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