I think the thing that excites me the most in working with metal is unleashing the chi of each piece.  Chi is energy.  Each blow of the hammer, bend of the pliers and touch of the torch transforms a plain sheet of metal into a piece glowing with its own sense of chi.  Pair that with semi-precious gemstones and the quailities they exude, and each piece becomes this astonishing little powerhouse, radiating with its own sense of energy, movement and grace.  My job is simply to release that -- what a privilege!

My work primarily focuses on fine silver and mixed metals, blending them with gemstones and pearls. With the mixed metals, I work in sterling silver, copper and brass sheet metal, and love how they blend to create interesting and beautiful miniature pieces of art, mixing shape and texture, size and color.

Metal clay and the fine silver pieces that it produces allows an entirely different set of design "muscles" to work.  Metal clay consists of tiny pieces of fine silver mixed with an organic binding material.  It comes in lump clay form which can be shaped into whatever your imagination dreams up.  Once fired in a kiln, the binder burns off and you are left with a piece that is 99.9% pure silver.

Working with both sheet and metal clay vastly expands the horizon of what one can create with metal making both mediums very exciting and satisfying.

To be able to work at your passion every day is an absolute privilege and that's what I have been able to do for the past several years.  I certainly love what I do, and hope you derive as much pleasure from wearing your custom designed piece from Agard Designs, as I did in making it for you.