Barbara Umbel Jewelry Design
Visual Arts
Contact
Description
My pieces are designed around the natural color and geometry in the sea shells I collect. Upon choosing the gemstones and pearls to complement the specimens, I draw the lines that will become the forged elements in my work, aiming to capture the movement of mythical sea creatures and their environs, whether they be swimming, plunging, or floating in the water.
The settings for the shells and stones are fabricated out of 14kt gold sheets and wires, while I sculpt the “tentacles” by forging or hammering round wires on an anvil to achieve a fluid sense of motion.
Barbara lives in Indian Harbour Beach with her husband and business partner Rick, as well as their “studio assistant” Cleo the Labrador. They show their work at juried art festivals across the United States and online at barbaraumbel.com.