Ahead of the holiday gift-giving season, we’re featuring three talented area artist-makers whose works, created with inspiration and imagination, are available online and/or at area shows and galleries. Meet more area artists and craftspeople in our Nov. 30 issue.
Courtney Fraley
City of Manistee
How did you decide to work in jewelry and, specifically, wire-wrapped jewelry?
CF: I’ve always loved making all sorts of things, ever since I was a little girl. While I was a mosaic apprentice under Tricia Boucha, she introduced me to bead embroidery, and it really snowballed from there. By the time I’d finished my apprenticeship, I was working at The Bead Gallery in Ann Arbor. That place was fantastic, and I learned a lot there and really gained confidence in my abilities. I don’t recall when, exactly, I first saw intricate wire wrapping, but I fell in love with it and became determined to learn.
FR: Did you/do you take classes or are you self-taught? Please explain.
CF: I started out by picking up “Wire Jewelry Masterclass” by Abby Hook, which I highly recommend. I also did a couple of free online tutorials. But I wanted to keep expanding my techniques and developing my style, so I started following a lot of high-end wire wrappers on Instagram and studying their finished pieces to figure out new techniques. Even with all those resources, there’s a lot of experimentation involved, lots of trial and error.
FR: What materials do you like to work with and why?
CF: A lot of people ask me why I do so much work in copper. Honestly, one reason is that it’s drastically less expensive, but it’s also a joy to work with. Nice, bare, dead-soft copper really does what I want it to, easily. Silver takes a bit more work, but I’ve gotten comfortable with it. Still, that leaves me at the mercy of fluctuating precious metal prices. As far as focals, I generally prefer genuine stone cabochons, though I do use Swarovski crystal, glass, and even carved avocado pits. But my favorite to work with might be ammonite fossils. I just love their look and their history.
FR: What are your three favorite tools to use (and why)?
CF: My most essential tools are definitely wire cutters, chain-nose pliers, and round-nose pliers. I couldn’t work without those. But my favorites? I just got a pair of nylon jaw pliers ⸺ those are fantastic; I wish I’d bought some years ago. My hammer and miniature anvil are a lot of fun. And I use mandrels a lot. I really recommend those.
FR: Are there others you consider as mentors and/or whose work inspires you?
CF: My favorite artist is Frida Kahlo, though I don’t know that she’s influenced my jewelry work. I apprenticed under (Kaleva artist) Tricia Boucha; she definitely taught me a lot. I follow a lot of other jewelry artists online, and I definitely get a lot of inspiration there. There are a lot of very talented wire workers out there.
FR: What are your other sources of inspiration?
CF: A lot of my work comes from just staring at my stones until inspiration strikes. I used to ride the bus in Ann Arbor and get ideas while listening to music with my eyes closed. Sometimes I sketch things out beforehand, but usually I just sort of go with the flow.
FR: Is there anything else you would like readers to know about you or your work?
CF: I decided to call my business Courtneycopia because I dabble in so many different types of art. I’m primarily a jeweler, but I also draw, paint, (and) sculpt anything I can get my hands on.
FR: Are you in any upcoming art-craft shows or gallery exhibits?
CF: I’ll be doing a trunk show at Patina in Onekama on December 10! That’ll be a new experience. I’m pretty excited about that. I’m currently looking to pick up some more shows in the coming months.
FR: Where can readers see your work online?
CF: I’m on Instagram, Etsy, Facebook, Reddit, and lots of other places. Best place to get a good look at my work is on Instagram. You can also email me at courtneycopia@gmail.com.
Pamela Tripp Simmons
Baldwin, Lake County
FR: You work in more than one medium. What are they, and what drew you to them?
PTS: I have worked in a variety of mediums ⸺ watercolor, acrylics, pastels and others. I was drawn to watercolor because of its portability and its flow. From there, I chose pastels and, later, acrylics. Having begun with watercolor, I learned that layering color is possible in all mediums, and I approached all mediums in similar fashion. Later, I started to use my illustrations to create collage and 3D sculptural forms, which have been my focus recently. Additionally, I apply the surface decoration on my husband Dale Simmons’ pottery, which is an extension of the themes I like to explore.
FR: Did you/do you take classes or are you self-taught? Please explain.
PTS: I attended Kendall College of Art and Design and received a B.S. in Art at Grand Valley State University, both in the Grand Rapids area. I concentrated on drawing and life drawing in college. Working in the mediums I have mentioned, you could say I was self-taught.
FR: What materials do you like to work with and why?
PTS: Lately, I’ve been creating paper sculptures from my illustrations. I enjoy incorporating natural, found objects in my sculptures. The sculptural pieces are the progression and evolution of my prior work.
FR: What are your three favorite tools to use (and why)?
PTS: Brushes are useful in all mediums, for watercolor washes, to soften pastels, or to apply wax resist to pottery and for other uses. Colored and watercolor pencils and a variety of colored marking pens are handy to have as well and of course acrylic, watercolor paint and a variety of paper.
FR: Are there others you consider as mentors and/or whose work inspires you?
PTS: I am inspired by any art I see. There is always something to learn about your own work by viewing other artists’ artwork, no matter the level of experience.
FR: What are your other sources of inspiration?
PTS: I grew up in a woodland setting, and our home is situated in the woods. Lake County has 150+/- lakes and 45+/- rivers and streams. Nearly half of Lake County is forested public land. My work is mainly inspired by my surroundings.
FR: Is there anything else you would like readers to know about you or your work?
PTS: I want to encourage the viewer to closely examine the incredible design found in nature and to think about the parallels between nature and humans. Humans put down roots, compete for survival, have symbiotic relationships and function in other similar ways. Looking closely, I want the viewer to see the idiosyncrasies, subtle mix of color, texture, pattern and our human imprint. As in humans, each plant has its own unique design. It is the unique design in nature that I try to present.
FR: Are you in any upcoming art-craft shows or gallery exhibits in western Michigan? Elsewhere?
I am included in the 93rd Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition sponsored by the Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan. The exhibition is Oct. 6-Nov. 30, 2022. My work currently may be found at Red Tree Curiosities in downtown Baldwin and at Studio Waveland and Gallery, Waveland, Mississippi. In summer, our Raku pottery is displayed at the Sleeping Bear Gallery in Empire, Michigan and year around at the Hudson Gallery, Sylvania, Ohio and locations on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
FR: Where can readers see your work online?
www.studiowaveland.com/product-page/pam-simmons-murder-hornets and www.facebook.com/pamelatrippgaller
Shannon Courier
“Beautiful” Manistee County
FR: How/when did you decide to begin knitting?
SC: I started knitting about 6 years ago when my daughter introduced me to the knitting loom, as she had bought one for herself and started making scarves. I figured it would be a great opportunity to spend time together and do something we both had a common interest in as well. With arthritis in my fingers, the loom was a much better choice for me. Knitting is also a great way to pass the time and stifle boredom, especially during the winter months.
FR: Did you/do you take classes or are you self-taught? Please explain.
SC: I’m self-taught, with a little help from my daughter as she had learned loom knitting a couple months prior. There are also many YouTube channels and videos out there to watch and learn from. I’m currently learning a couple new loom knitting patterns, thanks to videos and instant downloads from sites such as Etsy. So, look for those on my website and Instagram in the future.
FR: What materials (types of yarn, needles, etc.) do you like to work with and why?
SC: My number one tool is my knitting loom. I now own several of them in varying sizes and lengths. I just recently upgraded to a Cottage Looms handcrafted wood loom which I absolutely love using. If using buttons, I’ll use natural material such as wood and humanely collected deer or elk antler. As for yarn, I enjoy using wool, but at times it’s hard to find what I’m looking for so I will use various blends. When at all possible, I’ll use locally (to Michigan) sourced yarns, buttons and toggles and I really like to recycle materials as well.
FR: Are there other knitters, or craftspeople/artists in general, you consider as mentors and/or whose work inspires you?
SC: Several years ago, via the internet, I met Alma, an older woman living on the West Coast. We became quick cyber friends. She is an avid sheep breeder, spinner and knitter. Her life’s backstory quickly inspired me to look at things differently and just follow your dreams and think out of the box. So, my love of yarn started with wool roving, which I needle felted into crafts, then that led me to start spinning my own yarn, which I never did really master. But this knitting thing … it’s here to stay, all thanks to Alma.
FR: What are your other sources of inspiration?
SC: My dogs, Moose and Otter, are a huge inspiration to me and make great models for my canine line of knits. Coordinating a photography session with them together is like herding cats at times, but eventually I’ll get a good, usable photo! They also inspired the name for my website “Forest Dog.”
FR: Are you in any upcoming art-craft shows or gallery exhibits?
SC: As of right now I have no plans for art-craft shows this winter. Most of my work is made at the time of each order, so I don’t have any completed items on hand. I do, however, plan on doubling up on knitting over the winter, so I’ll be able to get to some of the local art-craft shows in 2023.
FR: Where can readers see your work online?
I do have a website where you can see and purchase what I have available. You can find “Forest Dog” at forestdog.bigcartel.com. I’m also on Instagram at www.instagram.com/forestt.dog.
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