about

Carol Martin graduated from Colorado College with a BFA in art. After working in the gallery business for over twenty years as a gallery director and then owner, she decided to pursue her own artwork full time. Since 1999, Carol has sold her award-winning jewelry designs through galleries, museum stores and fine-art festivals across the United States.

 

"Jewelry is not only an adornment, but also a personal expression of one's self. I like offering my customers unconventional designs that express fresh and colorful style that are functionally wearable as well," she says.

 

Carol  co-founded the Durango Public Art Committee, now the Durango Public Art Commission, with the goal of introducing public art into her local community. Over the past fourteen years, her work has helped the City of Durango acquire one of the largest public art collections in Colorado.

 

In addition to her BFA degree, Carol has studied cast-glass creation with California artist Dan Fenton, metal-smithing with Marilyn Nickelson of New Mexico, and PMC clay with Tim McCreight of Maine.

 

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Sculpted-glass jewelry created with pâte de verre and cast methods is very labor intensive and rare in jewelry design. The ability to design and sculpt unique shapes with unlimited colors, however, makes the effort wonderfully worthwhile. Together  with my glass-crafting techniques, I fabricate and forge  settings in precious metals that not only enhance the design but make each piece a joy to wear.

 

I grew up in a family of artisans and have always worked with my hands.  Making things is as natural as breathing to me.  The glass I make has both organic and gemlike qualities and is very often mistaken for gemstones.  My motivation is to create stunning jewelry unlike anything anyone has seen before.  From my home in the Rocky Mountains to visits in Caribbean waters, I gather ideas that I  translate into contemporary designs. Clients who have collected my work are appreciative of the uniqueness of these creations and the complex process that's involved in making these wearable sculptures.

 

Recognition

Best of Show in Jewelry, Woodlands Waterway Art Festival, 2018

 

Juror's Choice  3 D, Columbus Art Festival, 2016

 

Best in Ornamental Jewelry, Tempe Festival of the Arts ,Fall 2015

 

Best of Show Fine Craft, Durango Autumn Art Festival, 2015

 

Best in Jewelry, Art City Austin Festival, 2015

 

Selected for the “TOP Jewels” national exhibition, 2014

 

Best in Fine Art, Ridgway Art & Craft Festival, 2013

 

First Place, Durango Autumn Art Festival, 2012

 

First Place in Jewelry, Ridgway Art & Craft Festival, 2012

 

Best in Jewelry, Tempe Festival of the Arts Fall, 2011

 

First Place in Jewelry, Ridgway Art & Craft Festival, 2011

 

First Place, Durango Autumn Arts Festival, 2011

 

Best Booth, Durango Autumn Art Festival, 2010

 

Niche Award Finalist, 2008

 

Featured in Jewelry Artist Magazine, 2008

 

Best in Jewelry, Downtown Boulder Art Fair, 2007

 

 

 

pâte de verre and cast-glass works of art

 

 

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