Paula Sparks

An early interest in jewelry found me repairing my Avon ballerina necklace at the age of seven – I went on to study jewelry and metalsmithing at the University of New Mexico. I sold my jewelry at the flea market in Santa Fe and then began exhibiting at national juried art fairs. My business is almost twenty years old! Half of that time has been spent making cloisonne enamel. I start by creating a rich texture on fine silver, apply enamel and fire at 1450 degrees. I use cloisonne wire and apply the enamel with a very fine paintbrush, a technique called wet packing. Most of my enamel has six layers or more, which is fired after each application. When the enamel pieces are finished, I set them in silver with semi-precious stones. Each piece is made with the intention to integrate form, texture, color and movement. When I’m not playing with my curly girls, I can be found in my studio. Knitting makes me giddy and I love a good book.