Could you tell me a little about yourself?

My name is Inbar, I am a 42 years old creative mother and partner. I live in Tel Aviv, Israel and I’ve been owning a jewelry boutique business, “AmbareLjewelry”, since 2019.

How did you get started in jewelry making, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?

I started making jewelry in Spain - Seville , where I lived for a while. I continued and deepened my goldsmithing and design studies when I returned to Israel. I love jewelry and handwork from a young age. I never thought that this would be a career. It developed and develops with me all the time.

How would you describe your artistic style, and what themes or concepts do you explore in your work?

My artistic style reminds me of art nouveau and art deco, mainly shifting between figurative and organic sculptural lines. The elements can appear as a combination or each on its own, as an idea. My sources of inspiration are mainly from nature and the architectural world.

What materials do you most enjoy working with, and why?

I like to work directly on the metal and also sculpting in wax. These are the two most prominent techniques in my work. Why? Working with metal is the reason for my great love of craft, and I find it the perfect therapeutic material. Sculpting and working with wax requires great concentration and patience, as vey small dimensions are involved. There is softness and there is difficulty in both of them and emotion is required. The result is organic and it includes a rainbow of emotions, being my way of expression.

How do you approach the design process, and what are some of your favorite techniques or methods?

The design process begins with the inspiration I get from nature or an architectural structure / another interesting design line. From there, I proceed to draw it in at least 6 sketches to deeply understand a feeling - usually at this stage I start to find out points that could be good for the design and those that are not, but also the right technique for production begins to be established. In the next step, I proceed to build an initial model according to the chosen technique, wax or metal

For any line, shape, structure or feeling that I want to express or incorporate in my design, I do the needed research before the sketch stage. If the inspiration is a designer, I read about them and see other works, if it's a flower or an organic line, I study it in its natural environment. This is out of curiosity and provides another angle that enriches the final result, moving away from the object, suggesting it in an abstract form, or imitating it.

What role do you believe jewelry plays in our culture, and why is it important?

The role of jewellery in culture changes according to many factors and this ultimately concerns a personal place for everyone.

Jewellery reflects social status, prestige, family sentimental value, expression of personality, and jewellery is in fact a work of art. These are the main roles in culture and these receive a different value in each period from the dawn of history until today.

Why they are important brings a different response for everyone, depending on where it touches - for example, my personal collection of jewelry has a family history and are passed down from generation to generation.

Their value is very significant and it goes beyond the intrinsic value of its material or form; they are family property.

How do you stay up-to-date on trends and new techniques in jewelry making?

It is very important to stay up-to-date in the field and I do this on a regular basis. However, I consider it more important to know who you are making the jewelry for, what your niche is in the market and which of the techniques serve you the best, as a creator. My jewelry, for example, is less suitable for production in various 3D programs that I learned to work with.

The question really is, if it useful to you?

More important for me is develop the creative and research processes behind the technique. I own this boutique business that produces non-commercial jewelry and I work with a fairly regular and traditional technique.

Who are some of your biggest artistic influences, and why?

I don't have a single artistic influence, everything around me serves the inspiration, it's a matter of being aware, looking around, but it is also about the inner feelings that I chose to see. I get inspiration from the inner world that I experience, but also the outer world, through architects, painters, sculptors and the beautiful nature outside.

What do you hope people feel or think when they see your jewelry?

Good question, I hope they feel themselves.

I hope they see beyond the jewelry as a physical object and think of it as a creation that they want to wear and feel that is part of them naturally, or as a statement that comes out of them to themselves, like telling yourself in the mirror that you love yourself.

What are some of the challenges you face as a contemporary jewelry artist, and how do you overcome them?

My challenge is mainly not to compromise on the idea of the creation because of the limitations of the material - for example a piece of jewelry that is too complex to make or has a non-commercial weight (with gold this is really a challenge) which requires rethinking or a fundamental change in design. Also I focus on considering the jewelry in a functional way of comfort - heavy earrings are not comfortable for example. I learned to overcome the challenges in the initial stage of the sketch and in the modeling stage.

A piece of advice that I would give is to understand whether it is really realistic to spend too much time on the complexity of the jewelry or its weight, and usually with experience the solutions will come easily. What is often decisive is how much the jewelry rests in contact with the body.

Can you talk about a project or piece of jewelry that you are particularly proud of, and why?

An interesting and fascinating project I worked on was for an exhibition. The architectural inspiration to the practical execution of the jewelry was fascinating through models and dynamic work. The ring is an architecturally designed ring that I drew from the apartment building in Denmark "VM". The model was made in brass, using delicate sawing work and welding that created an interesting architectural space from any angle you choose to look at it. For the brave among us, it can also be worn!

The interesting work in the project for me is the research, experimentation and how I adapted myself to the constraints on the way.

How do you handle creative blocks or periods of low motivation?

I continue to create and work no matter what!

What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own (either made by you or someone else), and why?

I can say that I wear almost all the jewelry I created both as part of quality control and because I love them. They are cool and I feel great showing them off.

Still, if I have to chose, my Luna earrings are my favorite and I wear them most of the time, because they go well with the contours of the face, they are very flattering and elegant. They come in two versions (with or without diamonds) and I love how they are suitable for both daytime and evening looks.

How do you see your work evolving in the future, and what new techniques or materials are you interested in exploring?

I see my developmental future as a faithful line for creating and feeling jewelry that can be worn and also larger works for display. In a world where AI is very advanced and will continue to get developed and can already create a piece of jewelry at the customer's request with a simple instruction. I see myself entering a world with a sense of depth and meaning that AI will probably be missing.

We will have to live alongside the changes. This will be the real challenge and a change that will bring significant results in all professional fields.

I really want to research and learn the Repousse’ and Forge technique.

What have been some of the biggest milestones or accomplishments in your career so far?

An important milestone, so far, was the graduation exhibition at the special Ilana Gore Museum in Jaffa. It was a great excitement to see the wonderful works of very talented people who I walked the path with.

Everyone worked very hard and at the height of the creation, a unique opportunity to really engage in yourself without considering commercial factors that await the creator outside.

Can you describe a typical day in your studio?

Coffee! Water the plants. Music. And start working!

One of the most important things for my craft - arrive in a clean studio and tidy place where all the tools are maintained!

I like to continue or start working in a new and clean place, because it gives me clarity just like a painter who looks at his work again and knows where to correct or improve from the where they lefts off.

What are some of the most memorable reactions or responses you have received to your work?

The memorable reactions are mostly towards my less conventional jewelry - most of which are gold and unusual in size, I'm glad to see that it doesn't scare people away.

How do you measure success as an artist?

Recognition and influence.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a jewelry artist?

The most rewarding aspect of being a jewelry artist is the connection developed between the people, the material and the creation - an idea that manifests itself in matter and meets the human heart.

What is the biggest risk you have taken in your career as an artist, and what did you learn from it?

It's not the biggest risk, but definitely a risk that I took in retrospective - to participate in an exhibition that presented itself and even showed proof that it was professional and prestigious and in the end was completely amateur, I invested quite a bit of money and time in exchange for trust.

I learned better what I will demand, who I will turn to and what are the fair demands the next time I sign a contract. Some good advice will be to not feel ashamed to talk to artists who participated in exhibitions the previous years, so that you could hear their experiences and make an informed decision.

How do you approach finding inspiration for your work, and what advice would you give to other artists struggling with creative block?

As I said, the most important thing is to continue, even if there is no inspiration. Do not stop being in contact with the material. Everyone knows what their sources of inspiration are, just to be there without pressuring yourself and inspiration will come.

How do you incorporate sustainability and ethical considerations into your work as a jewelry artist?

As goldsmiths, we have a great influence on sustainability - it is very important to recycle materials that are intended for recycling, to dispose of toxic materials correctly and appropriately, to try to buy only what is necessary. Advising customers to renew old jewelry, use the material for a new piece of jewelry or recycle the material benefits everyone.

Metals and gemstones are perfect for the theme of sustainability.

My professional ethics are to always give the correct information, never mislead and make sure a sale is fair both for the client and also for me as a creator.

What are your favorite things to do outside of making jewelry?

When I'm not making jewelry I draw and paint, I have a drawing project that I'm very proud of and I've been doing it for three years and it's called the “National Flowers Project”.

What are some of your favorite things to do or places to go for inspiration?

I like to observe in the city and in nature. When I'm in a certain place I simply try TO BE and to gain awareness.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received, and how have you applied it to your life and work?

The best advice I ever received was from my master Uriel Buzaglo - to LET GO.

When I'm creating and I feel stuck, unsatisfied, or any situation where stubbornness takes over, I know it's the moment to leave it aside, and come back to it a day later or at another time. It always works!

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in jewelry making?

My best advice is to choose the right teacher - one who will give you the right criticism, support and the right tools to spend a long time in this beautiful field without losing yourself.

And of course always remember to feel the love for the profession and why you started it in the first place.

The rest will come by itself…

The Story of AmbareL Jewelry