LauraKay’s winning advanced project, “The Great Gatsby and The Green Glow” pendant, was inspired by the book and movie “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. LauraKay decided on that theme after she previously made something for a Great Gatsby fundraiser to benefit local students.
LauraKay first made notes about the symbolism of the work. She cut out examples of mansions, cars, characters, and maps relating to the movie. Then she rearranged the parts until she decided on a plan. The pendant came together over a period of about two months: just in time for the deadline.
This piece was intricate and took lots of time. LauraKay got some small people figurines and cars to use for molds. She used Jay Gatsby from the molds and drew and made the car 2D. LauraKay was concerned that the focal green fire-in-place opal would not fire correctly, but she buried it in vermiculite as advised and it came through brilliantly.
Overall, LauraKay is quite satisfied with the pendant. She thinks this pendant is probably the best piece she has ever made, though the Teapot Collection that was in the Sinter 2024 Superbly Sintered exhibit was a close second.
LauraKay lives in the house where she grew up in Stuart, Florida, USA. Her dad built the house and built boats, so much of LauraKay’s early years were spent on or near the ocean, which is often reflected in her jewelry.
Professionally, LauraKay was a mathematics teacher. About ten years ago, she went to a metal clay workshop and made a small, torch-fired fish: from then on, she was hooked.
LauraKay loves adding different materials to metal clay, including concrete, alcohol ink, UV resin, fused glass, cubic zirconia, gemstones, thread, beads, and gold. And she loves the new fire-in-place opals offered by Holly and Christopher Gage.
Though she loves to learn, there are no metal clay artists near LauraKay’s home. She relies on AMCAW, the Facebook Metal Clay and Mixed Media Group, conventions, workshops, and online classes to find support, encouragement, and information. She also always learns from participating in creative challenges.
LauraKay has entered most of the AMCAW challenges and was moved to the advanced category last year. She is overwhelmed to win this year since there are so many wonderful artists in this group. LauraKay thinks she has hit the absolute pinnacle with this win!!
LauraKay recommends that readers enter creative challenges. She thinks that most people will question whether others are better and that their work is not perfect or good enough. And they will probably see some of the winners and think, “I could do that” or else “They are so good so why should I try.”
An artist friend told LauraKay that on average, most people are only accepted into about 10% of the juried events they enter, so don’t think one “failure” defines you. But AMCAW challenges are fabulous opportunities to challenge yourself and grow. Challenges encourage you to strive to be better and to learn from not only your mistakes, but the success of others. LauraKay says success is really fun!
Find LauraKay
Find LauraKay on Facebook at facebook.com/laurakay.darvill
LauraKay publishes a monthly email newsletter; to join the list sign up here. Her last newsletter described much of the process of creating “The Great Gatsby and The Green Glow.”
