Craft-soup, or: Combining all your passions

Taking a closer look at my practice, I notice quite often that one of my main interests is crafts. In quite the broad sense too, working with your hands using a specific technique to create objects, I’m down. I’ve recently started a ceramics throwing course, and the feeling I get from trying a new technique or material is so relaxing and thrilling at the same time to me. New options, new possibilities, and a new chance to combine multiple disciplines together. 
If you look around my atelier, there’s an enormous amount of art supplies. From paints, inks, brushes and pencils, to wood working tools, metal smithing equipment (obviously!) and even an enameling and print/stamp making set.

This got me thinking, who else is combining multiple professions? What is the rest of the creative community in the Netherlands up to? I started looking for other jewelry makers who also like picking up a pencil or brush once in a while, who maybe also have a love for more materials than silver and gold. Does their other craft stand independently next to their jewelry-making practice, or do they complement each other. Or, even better, do they influence, inspire and propel them even further?

With my brand, www.illustrationist.nl, I decided I wanted to stay just as broad. I’m not just a gold smith or jewelry maker, I’m an illustrator, a crafts person. I like painting, ceramics, creating, analogue photography, collaging… On my web shop you can clearly see all these things come together. Or so I hope!

Below some of the other interesting makers, I found, where jewellery or illustration isn’t their only area of expertise!

https://polecatpieces.nl/
First, I found Polecat Pieces, where Kirsten van Helden creates jewelry pieces by hand using silver, resin, gold leaf and even ashed of loved ones in order to create truly memorable pieces. What I mostly love about her work is their organic nature, even though silver is a rigid material, her pieces seem to grow. Next to her jewelry craft she offers illustrations, even custom once if you’re looking to capture a memory.

https://www.keecie.nl/
One of my personal favourites, Klaartje has a background in product design. But her love for illustration speaks from the screenprints inside the bags. Those were what initially drew me into her brand, so fun and unique! I still have my first wallet, which by now is over 15 years old and still going strong!

https://shop.ikeiartstudio.com/
Isabelle, an artist making illustrations on cards and prints, but also on ceramics. Then jewelry with unique materials like acrylic yarn, paper clay and watercolours.  She’s inspired by nature and craftsmanship, there’s a link there ;)

https://www.studiolanterfant.com/
I broadened my search a bit to contain multiple styles and materials. Studio Lanterfant works with leather, wood, plexi and acrylics next to metals like RVS and brass. Product designer Moniek started creating jewelry from her love of illustration and not being able to find what she was looking for to wear herself. While the webshop mainly shows jewelry pieces, there is definitely an illustrators eye visible in some of the pieces!