Kate Bajic creates handmade, bespoke jewellery inspired by natural forms and structures, translated into contemporary wearable pieces of art. We are delighted to welcome Kate for her Elements debut, bringing you into her studio to delve behind-the-scenes for a look into her work and process of making.

What has been your journey to becoming a maker?

Becoming a jeweller was a second career for me. Something I discovered by happy accident after attending a jewellery workshop. I was inspired, I loved working with metal and working with my hands and I became hooked! It came at the perfect moment for me, when I was looking for a career change and I took full advantage, signing up first to complete an Art Foundation Course and then going on to complete a BA in silversmithing/jewellery at Loughborough University. I have never looked back. I’m so lucky to have a creative career and I love it!

The pieces Kate creates are hand-crafted using precious metals, often combined with semi-precious stones. Her designs evolve through experimentation with composition, playing with contrasting colours and materials, or by adding textural details like hand-stamped surface finishes and tiny elements of gold. Kate’s jewellery is intuitive and sculptural in nature. Most pieces are either one-off or limited edition, designed to sit together and compliment each other whilst still being unique and individual.

What is your process of creating a new piece?

Usually it begins with me looking through design sheets of lichen forms and patterns that I’ve built up over the last 5 years or so from photographs and drawings of lichens in situ. I trace these elements onto paper and play around with working them into different composition. Once I’m happy with the overall form I transfer the individual sections as templates onto metal sheet ready for piercing out. I’m also a fan of seeing where pieces develop and often make changes part way through a design when I can see another way which might work better or be more effective. It helps that my designs are by their nature quite organic and I only really make limited edition or one-off pieces as it gives me the flexibility I enjoy in the making process.

What drew you to lichens as your source of inspiration?

I’m lucky to live in a rural location in the Midlands so am surrounded by farm and woodland. Lichens seemed a natural choice as when you start to look for them you see them growing literally everywhere, and when you get closer and pay attention to the detail within the tiny forms and the often bright varied colours, they are beautiful. My initial interest was visual as a designer but as part of my MA I wanted to add more depth to my research, so I began to read more about their natural functions and chemical structures, and how their chemical compounds are used in cosmetics, science and in space and medical research, as well as pollution indicators for air quality and heavy metal pollution. The more I found out the more fascinated I became. I still add elements of chemical structures to some of my designs as a nod to their scientific value.

What technique drives your process of making?

I spend a lot of time hand piercing out lichen forms. Luckily, I find it very therapeutic and mindful. You fall into a rhythm with the saw as it moves around the silver, almost like you’re drawing with the blade, and when you layer up lots of these elements together the overall effect is very satisfying.

How does material choice influence your work?

I do use a variety of materials in my work. My main love is silver, simply because it’s such a pleasure to work with, but sometimes a design demands different qualities or finishes and then I look at other options such as thin steel sheet which is incredibly strong and can be hand sawn and patinated, or brass which can be sprayed in layered colours with acrylic paints. It depends on the piece and what my final vision is for it.

To learn more about Kate and her work, visit her on Instagram @katebajic or katebajic.co.uk. Kate is one fifty makers taking part in this years’ digital Elements: A Festival of Jewellery, Silver and Gold.

Images and video courtesy of Kate Bajic