Mandy Allen
mandyallenart.com
Instagram: @allenmetalarts
In jewelry, as in life, Mandy Allen believes balance is key. Her work is playful yet elegant, distinctive yet wearable, well-crafted yet affordable. She loves creating colorful, lightweight anodized aluminum and silver jewelry that helps celebrate the day, simply by wearing it.
Coming from a fine arts background, her approach to jewelry design is very personal and expressive. She took her first jewelry class at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Humboldt State University in Northern California, where she learned the importance of good design and craftsmanship, as well as how to anodize aluminum. When she realized that she could play with color and metal at the same time, she was hooked for good.
While primarily a jeweler, Mandy Allen is also known for her indoor wall sculptures inspired by elegant plant forms. Made from copper and anodized aluminum, her work celebrates the ephemeral beauty of nature in the more enduring form of metal. Her sculptures should be kept inside and out of direct sunlight.
So, what is anodized aluminum? Anodizing is a three-step process that allows her to permanently dye aluminum a wide range of luminous colors. It also strengthens and protects the surface. The color does not tarnish or rub off. Mandy is one of only a handful of studio jewelers who anodizes her own aluminum.
Since 2004, she has been living the dream in Portland, working as a full-time artist. She enjoys collaborating with her fellow artists as a member of the Alberta Street Gallery and the Creative Metal Arts Guild.
Instagram: @allenmetalarts
In jewelry, as in life, Mandy Allen believes balance is key. Her work is playful yet elegant, distinctive yet wearable, well-crafted yet affordable. She loves creating colorful, lightweight anodized aluminum and silver jewelry that helps celebrate the day, simply by wearing it.
Coming from a fine arts background, her approach to jewelry design is very personal and expressive. She took her first jewelry class at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Humboldt State University in Northern California, where she learned the importance of good design and craftsmanship, as well as how to anodize aluminum. When she realized that she could play with color and metal at the same time, she was hooked for good.
While primarily a jeweler, Mandy Allen is also known for her indoor wall sculptures inspired by elegant plant forms. Made from copper and anodized aluminum, her work celebrates the ephemeral beauty of nature in the more enduring form of metal. Her sculptures should be kept inside and out of direct sunlight.
So, what is anodized aluminum? Anodizing is a three-step process that allows her to permanently dye aluminum a wide range of luminous colors. It also strengthens and protects the surface. The color does not tarnish or rub off. Mandy is one of only a handful of studio jewelers who anodizes her own aluminum.
Since 2004, she has been living the dream in Portland, working as a full-time artist. She enjoys collaborating with her fellow artists as a member of the Alberta Street Gallery and the Creative Metal Arts Guild.
