The Art of Jewelry Design: From Idea to Reality (Jewelry Crafts) [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Olver (Author), Olver (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1581802129 | ISBN-13: 978-1581802122 | Publication Date: February 2002

This visually stunning guide provides readers with the techniques and advice they need to transform jewelry designs into reality. First it examines the basic elements of design, including size, material, function and color. Next it considers the conceptual style in which the crafter wants to make the piece, such as geometric, figurative, and organic.

Each design concept is explored with a discussion of its main characteristics and how they can be conveyed through jewelry design as well as an overview of the essential tools needed to create each design element.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Elizabeth Olver teaches jewelry making and design at Central St. Martin's College of Art & Design in London where she earned her BA in jewelry making and design. She holds an MA in the subject from the Royal College of Art in London where she has an Access fellowship. Her work is sold in many stores and galleries including Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue. She is the author of Jewelry Design: The Artisan's Reference.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581802129
• ISBN-13: 978-1581802122
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #689,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn to make and use design notebooks, August 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Jewelry Design: From Idea to Reality (Jewelry Crafts) (Hardcover)

I have just purchased two more copies of this book for two of my beginning students. Ms. Olver shows clearly and elegantly how to approach the design process using one or more sketchbooks. She breaks down the process into steps that make the process less daunting, and so nudges the student to delve deeper than they might otherwise do. The book is also a visual delight, a rich buffet of notebook ideas, projects in process, and finished work. I recommend it for metalsmiths at all levels, and for students in particular.

50 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what the title infers., August 2, 2004

By 

B. Culli "B N Quail" (Lake Havasu City, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Jewelry Design: From Idea to Reality (Jewelry Crafts) (Hardcover)

The title of this book infers that it will help the reader take ideas from the drawing board to a finished piece. I expected insight on how to overcome problems in jewelry design and specific techniques to aid in solving those problems. Unfortunately, that's not what the book delivers. There are a lot of slick photos of some rather bizarre jewelry, but not much information about how the pieces were made. If you are a budding jewelry maker in search of a book to help you create some original jewelry, skip this one.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the art approach!, March 1, 2005

By 

Appalachian Artist (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Jewelry Design: From Idea to Reality (Jewelry Crafts) (Hardcover)

I purchased this book and found it to be very helpful and inspiring. It truly gives the artistic approach to designing jewelry. There are no step-by-step instructs, it's not that sort of book. Instead, it really opens up your mind to get you thinking of your OWN steps to the creation of your OWN ideas. It covers essential design tools; stages of the design process; elements of design, and creative concepts and is all wrapped up in a beautiful presentation! For someone completely naive to art in jewelry design, pay attention to what it is teaching because it contains valid points. To someone coming in from a point already understanding jewelry, it is a book still worth having because it will make you stretch your creative process and you just may find yourself creating something unique, fresh and new!