Featured Artist Jim Harman

Artist Jim Harman creates a fascinating collection of lidded vessels and vases using bronze, stones and mixed media. See more of his work by visiting his website.

 

 

My goal is to create bronze pieces that are well designed, pleasing to the eye and timeless. With years of designing and manufacturing custom jewelry, the attention to design and detail is evident in my bronze pieces. My current work is making vases and bowls.  Most often, a vase has one hole and is the same on all sides. In my work, I am always looking for a new concept. The new concept is multiple hole two-sided vases. Each side has a different look in design and patina. As a master cutter of semi-precious stones, agates and jaspers, I am using them in bowl and vase designs.

 

 

This vase is the first one in my series of multiple hole vases. The black triangle is recessed and is the back side of the vase. This area features a white druzy quartz stone cut by me. Druzy is a super fine crystal formation about the size of salt crystals. The second picture is the reverse side of the vase. The natural branches are bundled and removable.

 

 

This five-hole vase is the second piece in my vase collection.  This piece features an outstanding slab of polished Brazilian agate. The five holes hold dyed reed bundles, and are removable. The second photo is the reverse side. It is signed and dated.

 

 

The third piece in my vase collection is “On the Way to Santa Fe”, shown above. The front side of the vase features three citrine chrysoprase stones and one jasper, cut by me. The vase has eight holes which hold natural reed bundles which are removable. The second photo is the reverse side, and it is signed and dated.

 

 

Most often bronze pieces are finished with a patina. In this piece, I decided to showcase the natural color of bronze. This piece features twelve hand cut Basanite stones, and one in the top of the handle. Cutting stones for inlay is a real adventure. The bowl has a high satin finish sealed with lacquer. The black and gold create a striking color combination; this functional bowl is signed and dated.

 

 

The lid of this bowl has concentric groves, which hold eight white pearls. The pearls have been half drilled, pinned and cemented into holes in the groves. The concept for this piece came from a roulette wheel, and it is functional.

 

 

This bowl features five red plume agate stones, and a classic geometrical pattern. Due to the size of the hole, this bowl is non-functional, although it was a great design exercise. I cut the stones for this piece; it is signed and dated.

 

 

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