Susan Hunter
Making jewelry came to me via love. In 2000 I fell for a wonderful man named Stephen. He had the heart and soul of an artist. Through Stephen I met his best friend Art and his wife Marty (a professional jewelry artist).
I was always a dabbler in the arts (painting, writing and photography years before), and I felt curious to try my hand at jewelry after looking at Marty’s beautiful work. I started taking metal smith classes in September. Stephen and I married on November 9. Stephen was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) four weeks later. I dropped the class, and we focused on Stephen living the best life he could have in what would be two years.
After he died I made it a mission to try to create something positive and artful in his memory. Marty showed me how to manipulate wax for casting. I made a pendant entitled “Kick ALS” in the shape of an hourglass. I had multiples made from the master in sterling silver and donated them to the ALS Association to help raise some money to find a cure.
It took a while to figure out what I wanted to do with jewelry after the tribute piece for Stephen. But then I made a heart that was off-center—on purpose. And then somebody wanted to buy it. Really? So I started making more pieces, getting more exposure for what I was making, then a website, started selling at shows (art festivals and the like) and now I’ve joined this Artists’ Co-operative: Artistic Portland.
Along the way I met and married a wonderful man named Robert who has supported and encouraged me to pursue my artsy ways. I am very fortunate to have found love again!
Artistic Portland has been fun and kept me busy. I have loved getting to know other artists and seeing their creations.
I was always a dabbler in the arts (painting, writing and photography years before), and I felt curious to try my hand at jewelry after looking at Marty’s beautiful work. I started taking metal smith classes in September. Stephen and I married on November 9. Stephen was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) four weeks later. I dropped the class, and we focused on Stephen living the best life he could have in what would be two years.
After he died I made it a mission to try to create something positive and artful in his memory. Marty showed me how to manipulate wax for casting. I made a pendant entitled “Kick ALS” in the shape of an hourglass. I had multiples made from the master in sterling silver and donated them to the ALS Association to help raise some money to find a cure.
It took a while to figure out what I wanted to do with jewelry after the tribute piece for Stephen. But then I made a heart that was off-center—on purpose. And then somebody wanted to buy it. Really? So I started making more pieces, getting more exposure for what I was making, then a website, started selling at shows (art festivals and the like) and now I’ve joined this Artists’ Co-operative: Artistic Portland.
Along the way I met and married a wonderful man named Robert who has supported and encouraged me to pursue my artsy ways. I am very fortunate to have found love again!
Artistic Portland has been fun and kept me busy. I have loved getting to know other artists and seeing their creations.
