Joyce Dodson

Double Peacock Necklace

Desgin Idea C23D Bracelet

Monarch Butterfly
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Jewelry-Making Contest 2011 featuring Crystal
Finalist

Meet the Designer-Artist


Where do you live?
Cave Junction, Oregon

Describe your artistic style.
I work in many media. I was an only child. When I told my mom I was bored, she said "Only the boring get bored ... so find something to do." Well I did ... I started to draw everything ... my room, my dog, family members ... she was right ... I wasn't bored anymore.

What inspires you as a designer-artist?
I love to create ... almost compelled to create ... I am a self taught artist. I love photography ... images scanned into my computer then changed ... (please go to my web site to see). I feel ... light is the essence of life. It reflects from people, the natural world and things created. This love of my art and to create is a good part of my life ... always has been.

What materials do you most enjoy working with?
Almost everything ... most of all seed beads. I would love to work with silver, but at this time, I cannot afford it ... but to paint with beads is my love now.

I am playing with Polyclay™ now. I also have started to crochet and bead earrings, they sell very fast; feathers with beads also.

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?
Double Peacock Necklace

What inspired this design?
I love the colors in the peacock feathers ... beautiful birds!

How did it come together?
I had a general idea of what I wanted and made my own pattern, Bead Tool 4 program on my computer, but it really does define itself as I am creating the piece. That's the fun and love of beading for me. Most of my works are "one-of-a-kind wearable art."

Share Your Background


When and how did you begin making jewelry/beading?
We moved here from Seattle about 8 yrs. ago. I wanted something artistic to do, so I joined the beading class here in Cave Junction and I was hooked!!!

Who introduced you to beading?
Elaine Korrea is the pres. of the beading class and we order all our items through her. I love the class.

Do you have an artistic background?
Yes ... I work in many media. In Seattle (for 33 yrs.) I worked for 22 yrs. at a reprographic business ... customer service and in other depts. During this time I was a computer artist of old vintage cars and motorcycle art.

How did you discover Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®?
Through the beading class ...

What other hobbies do you have?
Oh many ... I still do my computer art, but with images of this wonderful valley that we live in. I love to learn to make jams and jellies also ... pickled watermelon rind also ... yummmmm.

Do you belong to any beading societies or beading groups?
Yes ... through the senior citizen club in Cave Junction. I am 71 yrs. old. I also belong to the garden club here in C.J.

Beading Success


What role does jewelry-making play in your life?
We have almost 3 acres and 5 Maltese dogs ... so I have many chores to do. But when done ... I set and listen to the TV. And I do beading almost every evening ... I love it. I guess it is a part time career.

If you used jewelry-making as a way to bring in income, how are you selling yourself and your jewelry?
Yes ... I sell my work at the Oregon Caves ... for 3 yrs. now. I have a website of my art, but no jewelry ... as of yet. It is yessy.com (yessy art gallery) at the top of the page, in search, type in Joyce Dodson. I have 3 pages of my art at this site. I also have my work in a few places in Grants Pass. In a pet grooming shop and at the gift shop at Three Rivers Hospital.

Do you participate in any charity fundraisers?
Yes. Occasionally I have participated in charity fundraisers here , but not in the past year.

Any advice for aspiring jewelry-artists?
Keep at it. I have all the first pieces I made, and they have many mistakes ... and I wear them a lot to remind me of how much I have learned. So keep at it. Don't let yourself think "oh, I couldn't do that," because you can ... with practice ... and wear your pieces of art everywhere!

View all of Joyce's designs in the Gallery of Designs.