A little ditty about Caitlin Shurilla............Artiste and Jewlery maker

One of the reasons I wanted to start a blog was because I wanted to bring creative and unseen artists to life. I want them to be recognized and known out there in real life as well as cyber land. I want to pretty much share what I see and feel is fantastic and one of a kind and dig up questions and answers for people who are interested in getting to know them.





One person who I have taken interest in their work would be a girl by the name of Caitlin Shurilla. She creates beautiful and one of a kind jewelry pieces as well as prints and various other artworks. Her major focus these days would be her jewelry designs. She is currently placing her pieces online at ETSY and is working on adding more in hopes of expanding her business.

I have put together this little bio/interview of her so that people can get an understanding of how she works and what her style consists of. The bio is made up of a few questions some of them just for fun . The 8 question interview enlightens you with the way she works and what jewelery making entails especially for all of you newbies out there that may want to take on such an art!!!

So with that I offer you my first of what I hope will be many interviews of an intriguing artists of all mediums!!!!!

Bio:

Name(any nicknames as well): Caitline M. Shurilla (the M stands for Marie). Most of my friends call me Kait, so does my cousin

Age: 22

Location of existence: I breathe, sleep, and usually eat in beautiful Bucks County Pennsylvania.

People who inspire your art and your life: People don't exactly inspire me, some people who've added fuel to my fire are: Caren Friedman (printmaking teacher), Cris Martino (jewelry teacher), Tim McCreight (jeweler), Kurt Halsey Frederiksen (artist)

Current read that has your eyes glued to the pages: Harry Potter, all of them. If I'm not reading those, you'll catch me with my nose in a book about jewelry techniques or ART Jewelry Magazine.

Music that gets you going recently: The National

A guilty pleasure.......come on everyone has at least one: Lamb cooked rare.

Goals you wish to attain in these upcoming months: My number one goal is to set up a proper jewelry studio at my house. I've taken all the jewelry classes I can take at school right now, so I need a proper place to create at home.I plan on entering a piece of jewelry into the NICHE Student Awards.I'd also like to get more traffic in my Etsy.com store.

AND just for fun........why wouldn't you want to have a cow as a pet???? I would not like a cow as a pet... because... it would scare my dog and I'm not going to be cleaning the yard up after it!


Now its time for my superific whole 8 questions:

1. How did you become interested in jewelery making and what was your first piece the you ever created? Im not exactly sure how I became interested in making jewelery. When I was little I had a bead loom and would make things with it, I'd also make gimp necklaces and things with beads. In middle school one of the art teachers made jewelery, so a jewelery type class was offered. That's when I first learned how to use a torch, solder metals, and make hollow forms. The first finished sterling silver piece of jewelry I made was a lost wax casted ring.

2. How do you continue to dig up inspiration for your jewelery designs as well as your various print designs? Also through what sources do you learn new techniques?My prints are inspired by things that I enjoy and find interesting. I also like to experiment with new techniques (that's how I got the peeling paint prints). My jewelry is inspired by the materials I use, techniques I've learned or read about, and I'm working on different series of jewelry that are based on hobbies. I'm also trying to figure out ways to combine printmaking and jewelry.I learn about new techniques in different jewelry related magazines and books. Tim McCreight writes some of the best metalsmith technique books and is a teacher at the Maine College of Art in Portland. I learn about printmaking techniques from my printmaking teacher, I've also experimented with things she's heard of through other printmakers.

3. Now every artist always has a favorite piece they have done no matter what medium used, what has been yours?? My current favorite piece is:

4. Describe some negative drawbacks of jewelry making and the process of trying to promote and sell your work. The only real drawbacks of metalsmithing are the cost of materials (I'd love to work in gold, but it would be over $600 to make one ring) and finding the right space to set up a studio.As far as promoting and selling my work... The gallery owner that I was in contact with turned out to be a lazy, disorganized flake. It's also hard to convince someone to spend the same amount on a unique handmade piece from a not exactly established artist as they would on a piece of jewelry... from lets say, Tiffany's.

5. As an all around artist what would be your all time SECOND favorite medium to work with?? I love sterling silver and paper... Besides that, I like digital photography.

6. Any hobbies besides art that you find yourself immersed in when your not busy creating art/jewelry? I knit sometimes. I cook and bake a whole lot. Does watching Harry Potter count as a hobby?

7. For some readers information, do you except custom orders and if so how would one go about planning that out with you?? At the moment I can do some custom orders as far as jewelry goes. The things I can do are a bit limited since I've been working at my school's jewelry studio and that is no longer an option. Once the studio is set up I'll be able to do just about anything. Depending on the piece, custom orders would be best worked out via e-mails. My e-mail address is cmshurilla@hotmail.com.

And finally last but not least...............

8. Just for the record and my last question that is totally off the subject........................or possibly on, where do you see yourself down the road?? Still in art?? Well, not too far in the distance I see myself finishing up my BFA and Masters at Rhode Island School of Design or Maine College of Art. If my father has his way I'll be getting the BFA from Tyler School of Art, but I'll end up at one of the other schools at some point. After that, I see myself working for myself out of a barn turned into a jewelry and printmaking studio. I'll probably also teach a few hours a week either at a school or out of my studio.I'd also like to be married and all that good stuff.

Well with all that said................Thank you very much Miss Caitlin!!! Please stop by Caitlin Shurilla's ETSY page Also feel free to email her with any further questions or comments!