Hello, long time no blog!

 

However I have a good excuse...

 

I have some exciting news to share with everyone...

 

It is two part...

 

First...

 

I am now a represented artist at Pieces of Eight gallery in Melbourne!!!

 

You can see my introduction to the gallery on their blog entry from the 13th December

 

piecesofeightgallery.blogspot.com.au

 

or see below...

 

 

Today we proudly announce a new artist to Pieces of Eight Gallery, Laura Eyles.

“I have always been fascinated with mechanisms in machinery. Anything that moves, swivels, opens… I love technical precision. In my work I strive to combine the satisfaction of a cleverly designed piece with a sense of discovery, surprise and delight, character and fun. In my dreams I am a mathematical engineering genius, yet in reality I am an artist. I always hope my jewellery is a little of both.”
Laura has led a life of passionate study in Melbourne since moving from the Northern Territory in 1999. Her studies have included a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) at RMIT University (2004), Masters of Art (Curatorship) at The University of Melbourne (2008), an Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Jewellery) at NMIT (2010), where she was presented with the E.G.etal graduate award. Turning full circle, Laura returned to RMIT in 2011 to study as part of the Bachelor of Fine Art (Gold and Silversmithing) program.

In 2011, Laura exhibited as part of the Contemporary Australian Silver & Metalwork Award.

Laura is currently based in Kalgoorlie Western Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...So did you spot the next announcement?

 

Yep, that's right.

 

I am currently working in Kalgoorlie W.A.

 

 

This is a new year...I have a new location...and hopefully will have something else new to tell you soon...

 

Stay tuned.

  

 

 

 

 

 



So,

Who knows the story of the the Hare and the Tortoise?

Well here is one version.

Once upon a time there was a Hare who ran at 1000kms/hr

Everyone knew her to be the fastest in the land.

There was nothing that the Hare couldn't do in record time....

That was...until the Hare ran into a brick wall (metaphorically speaking).

...

Now...what about the Tortoise?

Well...the Hare was so badly damaged from the brick wall incident that she couldn't move.

All she could do was think.

And in true Hare style she thought at 1000kms/hr.

...

Now thinking at 1000kms/hr all the time is not as good as it sounds.

Soon enough the Hare was so exhausted that she fell into a deep sleep.

The sleep was so deep that the Hare started to dream.

Now this dream was not just a regular dream.

It was a very special dream.

...

In this dream the Hare met a Tortoise.

Who she pitied because the Tortoise was so slow.

But the Tortoise told Hare that she was never going to get better unless she slowed down.

"How can I win the race if I don't move fast?" said the Hare.

"Who are you racing Hare?" said the Tortoise,

"There is no race".

...

And with that, the Hare woke up.

She suddenly realised that she felt very worn out.

She had been racing for years and years and had never once realised that there was no one else in

the competition.

...

The Hare went back to what it was that she was doing before she hit the metaphoric wall

and looked at it with new light.

She told herself that she was not going to race anymore, because life is not a competition.

And here is what she made...

Critter Rings

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Budgie Ring- 18 Ct Yellow Gold - Sapphires

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Mouse Ring - Sterling Silver - Rubies

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Bear Ring - Oxidised Sterling Silver - Garnets

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Critter Rings

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Budgie Ring - Sterling Silver - Garnets

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Mouse Ring - Oxidised Sterling Silver - Rubies

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Bear Ring - Sterling Silver - Sapphires

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Critter Rings

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Budgie Ring - Sterling Silver - Sapphires

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Assorted Critter Rings

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Capsule Earrings - Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel, Enamel Paint

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Capsule Earrings - Gold Plated Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel, Enamel Paint

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Capsule Earrings - Oxidised Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel, Enamel Paint

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

WELCOME TO LAURA LAND! (Trumpet fanfare...)

Welcome friends and followers.

I hear it is never too late to get started on a blog... so here goes.

Firstly, introductions...

I am Laura Eyles and I have for the last 12+ years been on a creative path that has led me here.

It all started in 1999 at RMIT University in Melbourne, when I enrolled in the Fine Arts program in Painting. Whilst doing this course I first came upon the Gold and Silversmithing department and remember thinking "wow, what do I have to do to get into metalwork?!".

I finished my BA Arts (Fine Arts) in Painting and ended up following my academic side to The University of Melbourne, where I started a Masters in Art Curatorship... However after a year I realised how much I missed the studio and it soon became clear that I wanted to be a "Creator" rather than a "Curator"...

I left The University of Melbourne and started working as a Makeup Artist full time, during the following 7 months I started dabbling in jewellery making at the CAE in Degraves st Melbourne. I realised that finally after all these years of being a "nomad" creatively speaking, that I had found my specialty, Gold and Silversmithing was it.

  

 Chatterbox - Brass - 2008

At this time I was also working for e.g.etal and I started speaking to the girls I worked with and realised that RMIT was not the only option for gold and silversmithing.

I found out about NMIT's Advanced Diploma in Engineering (Jewellery) and it seemed perfect, particularly as I had already studied at RMIT.

Enamelled Dome Earrings - Copper, Sterling Silver, Enamel - 2009

 

Organic Ring/Crater Ring - Sterling Silver, 18ct Gold, Rubies - 2009

 

Barrel Earrings - Copper, Enamel Paint, Stainless Steel - 2010

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

 Pop Up Pendant - Copper, Enamel Paint, 9ct Gold, Sterling Silver, Silk Thread, Coral, Diamonds, Ruby - 2010

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

The 2 years I studied there were the best 2 years of study I have ever had! At the graduate exhibition I had a prominent Melbourne contemporary jewellery gallery ask for me to come on board as one of their artists (more will be revealed as I work on getting stock make for said gallery) and I felt as if I had finally reached my creative highway... OK so...I realise that deaths on highways make up 36% of road fatalities in Australia... I have my seat belt on.

 

Enameled Brooch - Oxidised Sterling Silver, Copper, Enamel, Stainless Steel, Diamonds - 2010

Photo by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Three Crosses Rotating Brooch - Sterling Silver, Steel Ball Baring Race, Stainless Steel, Diamonds - 2010

Photo by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Capsule Earrings - Sterling Silver, Oxidised, Gold Plated, Stainless Steel - 2010

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Critter Necklaces - Sterling Silver, Oxidised, Gold Plated, Stainless Steel, Enamel Paint, Rubies, Sapphires - 2010

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

After completing my Advanced Diploma in Engineering (Jewellery) at NMIT, in true Laura style, I decided that I wanted to do another course... So at the beginning of the year I enrolled at RMIT to do exactly the same course I did in 1999 but in Gold and Silversmithing.... Perhaps a mistake, I did a semester and did well, but have since taken leave of absence to get my 'grown up' on and have a crack at it in the studio, without study.



Wish You Were Here Earrings - Sterling Silver, Cardboard, Gold Sequins, Plastic - 2011

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Chain Necklace - Brass, Sterling Silver - 2011

Photos by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Pastie Brooch - Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel - 2011

Photo by Screaming Pixel photography & digital imaging

Which brings us to the here and now...

So now that we've caught up on history, please stay tuned for what's yet to come.