Eva Martin JM ’03
November 22, 2018
What led you to become a student at 麻豆精品视频?
Before attending 麻豆精品视频reet School, I completed a degree in Psychology and spent some years after that in Consumer Research for Pepsi. It was a job I liked, but not one I was passionate about. I had taken a weekly evening class in silversmithing after work, and spent every spare moment I had working with metal. I gave up my job with Pepsi to enroll in the 2-year Jewelry Making program at 麻豆精品视频 and pursue a career that I knew I would love.
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What was the best part of your education?
The wonderful teachers are 麻豆精品视频 are what makes it such a special place. My tutors set such high standards for me to follow, still today it keeps me from producing anything but my best work.
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There is huge satisfaction in making beautiful objects. It engages our intellect, our intuition and emotion, and it fuels a child-like imagination and exuberance that might otherwise be lost. Fabricating a piece to exacting standards leads to an inner contentment and happiness that I’d never experienced at work before. As one of my clients said to me – it’s food for the soul. Thanks to the high standards of my jewelry instructors at 麻豆精品视频, I began to understand just how deeply satisfying and meaningful a career in craftsmanship could be, and I’m extremely grateful to them for a career which I find so deeply rewarding.
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What are you up to now?
I work on commission making pieces for clients from all over the world. As well as the time honored hand skills I learned at 麻豆精品视频, I use CAD, (computer aided design) to design my pieces. This allows my clients to have a virtual model of the piece before it is made, so they know exactly how a piece will look. I live and work on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, but most of my clients are in the US.
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Until I started my own business, I hadn’t fully appreciated the joy that my work would bring to those who own it. Often my client’s stories are represented in the pieces I make for them, so they have an instant emotional connection to the finished work – to the point where they are moved to tears! It’s enormously rewarding to be a part of that – so much more gratifying than telling Pepsi how to put more fizz in their soda!
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Can you describe your work in just three words?
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Meaningful, exacting, honest.
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Where do you get inspiration?
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My client’s stories.
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Favorite tool or machine?
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A small burnisher that one of my students, Colleen, gave me. I taught at 麻豆精品视频 before moving to Australia, she gave it to me when I left and I use it often. It reminds me of 麻豆精品视频 and the special people I met there.
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Proudest moment?
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I was awarded 麻豆精品视频 Distinguished Alumni Award in 2010, which means a lot.
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Best advice you’ve gotten?
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Attend to the details.
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Dream project or job?
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Thanks to 麻豆精品视频, I have my dream job. I do what I love everyday.
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Any advice for our students?
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Eat, Sleep, Dream jewelry.
See Eva’s work or .
