Katherine Paisley: Artist’s Statement and Biographical Background

In my life’s journey, I have become studio artist, a world traveler and teacher. I have just retired after over thirty years of teaching Spanish and Art, and now my focus is on working as a full-time jewelry artist.

I was born in Portland, Oregon in the late 1950’s and grew up in a family that valued education, art, craftsmanship, and exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I grew up under the influence of a grandmother who was an avid gardener, so I learned to look closely at the details of nature’s design as I explored the canopy of bean and pea tendrils, scaled fir trees, squeezed through dahlia forests or gazed in awe at minute creatures living in Arnold Creek. My grandparents were also dedicated rock hounds, so I fell in love with the natural colors and shapes of petrified woods, crystals and plethora of gemstones from early childhood. My mother has also influenced my sense of balance and quality of craftsmanship. Thanks to my family and many mentors, I have become the studio artist that I always wanted to be.

I have always been driven to be a constant explorer and student of technique and art media throughout my life. I have studied metalsmithing and jewelry arts at the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts and at the University of Oregon, with the renowned Max Nixon. I have also attended numerous workshops on the subject, but I am primarily self-taught. I also have a love of languages and other cultures and have lived in Brazil and Chile. My journeys in South America ignited my love affair with rhythm, colors, ancient, pre-Colombian motif as well as patterns and lush tropical botanicals, which have also helped to shape my early aesthetic.

In the late 1980’s, I continued to study Fine Arts and also earned my Bachelors in Spanish from the University of Oregon, and then I went on to earn my Masters Degree in Spanish from Portland State University. In addition to working as a studio artist, I also teach Spanish and Jewelry Arts classes in Hillsboro, Oregon.

As a gold and silver smith, I enjoy using my tools to hammer small shapes into forged wearable art. Fabricating work by cutting and soldering with my torch is another studio pleasure. I also paint and find that enameling gives me an endless opportunity to play with colors and textures. Besides the more traditional jeweler’s media, I also go back to my early travels in Brazil, where I learned to crochet with my women friends. I even crochet fine silver and high-karat gold.

I currently belong to the Creative Metal Arts Guild of Portland and the Society for North American Goldsmiths. My work is shown at the RiverSea Gallery in Astoria, Oregon as well as other art shows in the region.