FOUNDED IN SOLIDARITY, COMMUNITY, AND JOY
MEET THE MAKER MONDAY
LESLEY AINE MCKEOWN
LESLEY AINE MCKEOWN JEWELRY DESIGNS
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AUGUST 19, 2024
Welcome to Crafted by Makers' interview series, Meet the Maker Monday, where we uncover the stories and inspirations behind the art.
We are excited to introduce Lesley Aine McKeown, the creative force behind Lesley Aine McKeown Jewelry Design. Lesley Aine creates intricate, one-of-a-kind pieces that merge technical mastery with profound personal narratives.
Equality Bracelet: Peridot, Tanzanite, London Blue topaz, citrine, Vesuvianite, Carnelian, Amazonite, Aquamarine, sterling silver.
What initially sparked your interest in art, and how did you begin your journey as an artist?
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My artistic journey began from the time I could walk. Raised by two professional artists, my sensory environment was rich with stimulation. I was raised to see and ask questions and, most importantly, to problem-solve. I remember being very interested in how things were made. In 1979, my family moved to Sedona, AZ. and opened an Arts and Crafts gallery.
The natural beauty coupled with constant exposure to the best artisans in America, opened my eyes to possibilities and an appreciation for excellence. Finding my muse took some time. I worked various jobs, one making authentic reproductions of plains Indian artifacts for a small museum and working with rawhide, leather, and natural pigments, it was a blast.
Then, in 1982, I was offered a job working for a local silversmith in Sedona. I quickly fell in love with the immediacy of metal. Its malleability was so enticing. My employment developed into an apprenticeship that formed the foundation for my career. I opened my first professional studio in 1984, creating contemporary art jewelry. Jump forward 40 years, and I feel so blessed to have made a living from my passion and awake each day with a hunger to create.
Neptune Necklace: Blue agate with Swiss blue topaz, two white diamonds. Sterling silver and 24kt gold.
How do you typically approach the creative process from conception to completion?
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My work has always been a result of my current interests and an exploration of the technical aspects of making jewelry. I am inspired by so many things, architecture, nature, social structures. I am very interested in forms so the perception of dimension and how to create it in jewelry is a constant inspiration.
I make one-of-a-kind art jewelry; what is art jewelry? Art jewelry is the exploration of traditional techniques in new ways, the expression of conceptual insights beyond that of simple ornamentation.
This approach allows me to explore and create bodies of work within a narrative, to deeply explore those ideas and how I can express them in metal. I am not restrained by a look or style. I can make what interests me and am blessed with collectors that embrace my journey. It is liberating to create free from influence and industry standards.
I believe in striving for excellence in craft and artistic expression. I have often been asking, “What is our favorite piece?” my answer is always “the next one.” That epitomizes my feelings about my work. Creating is a journey, a process constantly in motion. If I was to describe what I specialize in it would be work that continues to push boundaries, provokes thought, and represents a meaning deeper than simple aesthetics.
I always begin a piece with a drawing, this helps me work through the design elements as well as how the piece will be constructed. It is much like a journal and archive where I kept ideas and finished concepts.
I am blessed with the ability to see a piece completely finished in my mind in 3 dimensions. This is called “hyperphantasia”, a spectrum of visualization that everyone has to some degree, but enables me to understand how to build a piece and see it finished before it is even manifest. Over the years I have developed practices, much like yoga disciplines that help me access my creativity consistently. When beginning construction of a piece it is systematic. Working through the steps using conventional metalsmithing tools and techniques I build from the drawing, rarely deviating from it
Ruby Amaryllis Earrings: Ruby, Pink tourmaline and Rholdolite garnet. Sterling silver and 22kt gold.
How do you overcome creative blocks or challenges in your work?
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Stagnant periods and blocks are part of the natural process of being an artist. I view them as a reminder to refocus my thoughts and shift my perspective a bit. Usually this begins with looking back over recent work to see where my thoughts were going. I keep a sketchbook of every thing I make and detailed inspiration boards dated and labeled. I have found over the 40 years I have been creating that documenting my process and thoughts is crucial to staying fresh and focused.
If I get really stuck, I will pull out of the studio completely and enjoy a little retail therapy! That usually resets my clock.
The challenges for me are not what to make but what to focus on. The ideas are so prolific lately that I really need to be systematic and tap into the ones whose emotional and technical information are clear.
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Ring: Santa Maria Aquamarine, London bleu topaz, Swiss blue topaz, sterling, 22kt gold, 18kt gold.
How do you balance artistic expression with the practical aspects of being a professional artist?
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I will admit I spend to much time these days on promotion, mainly on the computer. When I started making jewelry the internet was not mainstream and social media was not even invented. Today not only do you need to exercise the old traditional methods of promotion (business plan, photography and research) but you need to be proficient in website management, social media and digital communication. Today I limit the time I spend on the computer to 30 minutes each morning, additional computer work is allocated closely so as not to interfere with studio time. I do enjoy doing graphics and am blessed I do not have to pay for these services.
Artist carved Brazilian agate inlaid with 24kt gold set on Ebony. Framed in a sterling silver hollow form with accents in 22kt gold. Mali garnet and white Diamonds set in 22kt gold. Dimensions: 2.50” x 2.65” x .45”
Can you share a piece of artwork that is particularly meaningful to you, and explain its significance?​
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I have made a lot of jewelry, most of it competent. But the recent loss of my father created a need to express emotions I had never really experienced. I made this piece as a tribute to my father Byron Brooks Mckeown, maker and imaginer of the rarest form. I feel this is the best piece I have made to date.
Hiraeth (Gaelic) a deep longing, a feeling of missing something irretrievably lost.
This piece is a narrative about coming and going. A journey through the loss.
Regrettably grief does not come with directions. There is an invisible chasm, a void that seems to consume the very air. And yet I see, floating in the periphery, the essence that is life. The particles like motes in the light that make up the universe.
The promise that that which is lost, is in us, among us and of us.
Rift Brooch: Pyrite & slate, Golden Rutile. Sterling silver and 24kt gold Keum boo.
How do you see the role of art in society, and what impact do you hope your work has?
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A Society without art is a society without a soul. I feel it is my responsibility to educate and support the arts in every way I can. I'm not sure if my work has much impact on society, that is difficult to measure. But I can have an impact. For the past 20 years, I have been teaching art jewelry. My approach is from a process perspective as opposed to the trend of project-based learning. I absolutely love helping others understand their creative process and develop skills that aid them in accessing inspiration consistently. I teach them how to see, think about their creativity, and express it in an authentic way.
It is a holistic way of creating that encompasses all aspects of one’s life. My classes also focus on refining technical skills and identifying and achieving personal goals. I am humbled when students entrust me with their creativity, and so very proud of the work they achieve.
It is very important to me to help other in any way I can. I was guided and encouraged throughout my career and own a deep debt to all those who gifted me with their wisdom.
Artist Info
Name: Lesley Aine McKeown
Website: www.lesleyainemckeown.com
Email: lesleyainemckeown@gmail.com
Instagram: lesleyainemckeown