Jeweller Robin Tanner enjoys stepping out of her studio to discover new designs.
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Exploring the “edge lands” between urban and rural areas has served as her inspiration for several of her pieces.
“The areas are kind of forgotten,” Tanner said.
Particularly she looked at the border near the North Esk River.
The displaced natives were planted for an arboretum, which was unsuccessful, she said.
“It’s full of life, but such a degraded area.”
Lichens, trees and leaves all add different elements to her jewellery, whether it’s an outright shape or pattern.
She was involved in the Marathon Project, which used a 1430 hectare property in the foothills of Ben Lomond to create a dialogue about art, landscape and conservation.
Watching the land transform from dry and drought-stricken to rich with life after heavy rain also changed how she interpreted the landscape and used it for inspiration, particularly as she watched the lichens grow.
Much of the land has been turned into a wildlife refuge with a small section used for sheep grazing.
Having livestock changed the environtrment dramatically, Tanner said.
I use sketch books then make little pieces … until I get the shape I want. It takes a while to get something aesthetically pleasing.
- Jeweller Robin Tanner
Kangaroo grass, which grazing sheep thrived on, served as a design for a series of pieces by Tanner.
She also created a series following the 2016 floods in Launceston by creating pieces inspired by flood debris on the riverbank.
“I use sketch books then make little pieces … until I get the shape I want,” Tanner said.
“It takes a while to get something aesthetically pleasing.”
Photos and sketches serve as memory aids.
Creating jewellery could be an extensive process as Tanner said she might have to heat metal up to 10 times before she has shaped it into a form she wanted.
She has been involved in jewellery making for about five years.
Her interest in jewellery work was sparked during a contemporary arts degree with hours that she studied at university.
It was an area of study during summer session, which she decided to explore further in a TAFE course.
She always imagined moulding metal into jewellery would be very hard, but soon found it was an enjoyable process, Tanner said.
“There’s not a lot of difference between [making] smaller sculptures and jewellery,” she said.
Her studio is a collection of tools, finished jewellery, working progresses, books, sculptures and, bits and bobs from her nature trips.
“Most designs are inspired by things that occur naturally,” Tanner said.