Welcome to the first of three posts on the recent winners of the UG Art Scholarship! Read below about the beautiful necklaces you’ve seen hanging in UG – creations by College senior Catherine Farr.
I was inspired to create the necklaces when I saw photos from a Proenza Schouler fashion show – the models were wearing these beautiful and elaborate necklaces. My first impulse was hmmm…I bet I could make that. So, I purchased some supplies and made a necklace that looked just like the one the model wore. I started experimenting with different colors and techniques, and eventually developed a style that veered away from the initial necklace. With each necklace, I never have a specific idea in mind – I just pick colors that I like, and they always end up different. I also feel like I have a pretty simple wardrobe – always wearing solid color t-shirts – so when I would wear the necklaces I made, they would always make my “boring” outfits unique.
Currently, I’m selling the necklaces on Etsy (check out my store here). I love shopping on Etsy and browsing all of the different sites, so that was the main impetus for making my own site. I’ve sold 13 (one to Rio de Janiero – it’s cool to think that people I don’t know own them!) and will post the ones on display at UG later on. I don’t have a big enough inventory (yet!) but I also think that ScoutMob Shoppe – an iPhone app/website that curates locally made goods – is a great venue to buy/sell homemade products online.
The supplies to make the necklaces are pretty inexpensive – I applied for the $250 grant but was awarded $500. When I found out, I was really excited because it made me think in a new way. I started brainstorming ways to use new materials and browsed websites looking for unique supplies. I really like incorporating stones into the necklaces, my favorites are the the ones I made that have agate slices. I also was able to get some nicer materials. For example, I noticed that after wearing the first few necklaces that I made, the “gold” clasps tarnished, I was able to purchase nicer clasps that will hold up a lot better.
Though I don’t know if my career path will involve art directly, I will certainly continue art projects. Over Christmas break, I spent so much time making the necklaces and working on other art projects, because that’s what I really most enjoy doing.
Catherine Farr is an English and Art History double major.
