Creative Design
Inspired By
When asked to share five things that inspire her work, jewelry designer Brenda Smith offered a look at the moments, materials, and creative influences that have led to some of her designs.
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Brenda Smith
Brenda Smith Jewlery
Atlanta. GA
For Smith, inspiration can begin with an experience, an unusual gemstone, a personal memory, or another artist’s work, providing a starting point for the colors, forms, and details that define her jewelry.
1. Moments of Celebration
Sometimes an experience can inspire an entire collection. The bursts of color and light in Fourth of Jewelry fireworks inspired my Celebration Collection. I wanted to capture that fleeting explosion of color in jewelry, along with its movement and dimension. The resulting chandelier earrings radiate outward like miniature three-dimensional fireworks and come alive as they move.
2. Extraordinary Gemstones
Very often, the gemstone itself becomes my inspiration. I typically avoid buying calibrated stones because unusual shapes and cuts challenge me to think beyond conventional settings. Instead of designing around predetermined dimensions, I can allow the gemstone to lead me somewhere unexpected. One example is a large malachite that inspired a sculptural bracelet in which the stone became part of the architecture of the piece. Its natural pattern led me to pair it with warm yellow gold, spessartite garnets, and diamonds.
3. What I See in a Stone
Sometimes I look at a gemstone and immediately see something in its shape. When I saw a 37.33-carat aquamarine briolette, I envisioned the graceful body of a butterfly, and the rest of the piece began to take shape from there. The inspiration didn’t come from the gemstone alone. The butterfly’s wings were influenced by the pineapple pattern in my grandmother’s crocheted doilies, bringing a personal memory into the design.
4. Unusual Shapes
Sometimes the shape of a gemstone is simply too compelling to ignore. A 22.36-carat citrine cut by Philipp Munsteiner immediately captured my attention. Rather than placing it in a conventional setting, I echoed its distinctive geometry throughout the necklace, allowing the unusual form of the gemstone to guide the design.
5. Other Artists
I’m also inspired by the work of other artists. I was captivated by the expressive millefiori faces created by artist Barbara McGuire. Each has its own character and personality, which makes every piece incorporating one unique. For my Lady Luck pendant, I surrounded one of McGuire’s faces with color, texture, and gemstones. The design also reflects my admiration for the patterns and ornamentation in the paintings of Gustav Klimt.
