Rona Fisher

"I focus on inspiration and intuition first. I believe that technique is vastly important, but I also believe that technique without inspiration is empty. My work is inspired by the energy of rivers and by forms from antiquity. It conveys my intuitive sense of movement and of asymmetry with balance. My intuition guides my technique."

Painter-turned-jewelry-designer Rona Fisher describes her work as "organic with an urban edge." Working from her studio in Center City, Philadelphia, she enjoys the buzz of an urban setting, yet takes much of her inspiration from nature. Motifs reminiscent of riverbeds, flowing water, and pebbles all make their way into her contemporary yet timeless designs.

Rona Fisher works in solid precious metals, including sterling silver, various colors of 14k and 18k gold, and palladium. Her process begins with sketches, which are then translated to 3-D CAD models. Each piece is created using lost-wax casting and fabrication techniques. Parts are fused and soldered, and surface texture is often added using a range of hand tools. Many pieces also include bezel-set gemstones.

A self-taught jeweler, Rona Fisher holds a BFA in painting from University of the Arts (formerly Philadelphia College of Art). She discovered craft as a valid artistic pursuit in San Francisco in the early 1980s. She began her jewelry career in the late 1980s while living in Munich, where she was inspired by German goldsmiths and their use of simple, dramatic forms and high standards of craftsmanship.