About
My name is Maree Grant. I am a part time silversmith. I have been working with silver for about 7 years, but have been teaching and making art, in some shape or form all my life.
I love everything about working with metal. The way it behaves, and misbehaves, when it is cut, beaten, heated or cooled. It can be an unpredictable being, but I am always ready to start a new piece or face a new challenge.
I have a passion for traditional Japanese Kanzashi hair ornaments. I saw a display in a gallery once, many years ago and was hooked. Their elegant movement of line and strong links to nature and history captivated me. The inspiration for all my work comes from the beautiful land, fauna and flora around me. I see potential ideas for creating basically everything I see. A sunrise against the mountains will become a pair of earrings or a fish swimming in the river may become a Kanzashi hairpin. It is exciting trying to create and connect a colour, shape or texture to represent a particular thing like stalactites or tiny coral berries on a rock or the rich colours of an iron bark leaf.
Recently I have started exploring enamels, this has opened up a whole new world of colour for me. Glossy enamels allow me to create bright, flashy abstract flowers or using simple symbols for the mountains, hills, water and land, and matching and combining subtle colour palettes. It is very exciting layering the enamel powders and then wondering what will come out of the kiln.
All my jewellery has a story behind it. It is something that makes each piece special and builds a connection between me, my work and my audience. Sometimes the story might connect to a place they were born or lived or a shared feeling of happiness or love.
In the last few years I have gained the confidence to exhibit. It is harder than you think to put your work out for others to see but it is also thrilling. The best part of an exhibition, for me, is being with my jewellery so I can chat, tell my stories, and watch magical connections being made.
