Welcome to a universe of colorful hand-made art jewelry inspired by modern and ancient images of the cosmos.
About Priscilla Frake's Jewelry
My jewelry is a fusion of art, science, and craft, inspired by modern and ancient images of the cosmos. Astronomy and physics provide me with imagery, ideas, and design motifs. I use my knowledge of the chemical properties of enamel to create luminous disks, which are crafted by hand into unique art jewelry. I developed this body of work over a decade ago to explore how each person carries around a personal mythology based on conflicting and sometimes unconscious ideas from both the present and the past.
I started making jewelry as a child and came back to it after a career as a geologist. I studied the craft of jewelry at Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts and enamel at Glassell School of Art. I have been making jewelry for over twenty years and have been in many local and national exhibitions Including a solo show at the Jung Center of Houston entitled As Above, So Below: Inner and Outer Images of the Cosmos. I am a member of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild and The Enamelist Society.
Check out Priscilla Frake's Artwork - Voyage Houston Magazine | Houston City Guide
About Enamel
Enameling is the ancient art of fusing powdered glass onto metal. Enamel was widely used and prized in the ancient world for its brilliant colors, durability, and resistance to wear. The process involves dry sifting or wet packing enamel onto a prepared metal surface, then heating the metal to about 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, either in a kiln or with a torch. It is a demanding and time-consuming process, as the enamel surface is generally built up in layers through multiple firings.
Enamel is composed of silica, with varying amounts of borax, potash, magnesia, and lime, specifically formulated to bond to a metal surface. Metal oxides are added to give the glass color.
