Studio of Bill Ooms

Bill Ooms

Enamel and Jewelry

Enameling is the ancient art of fusing colored glass powder onto precious metals under high heat. Cloisonné is a technique which uses thin wires of pure silver embedded into the enamel to create designs.

A sheet of pure silver is polished and covered with a thin layer of clear enamel. Delicate cloisonné wire is fused onto the surface to define the pattern or design. A number of thin layers of colored enamels are applied. Each layer is fused in a kiln heated to 1450°F. Additional layers of clear enamel are applied and the surface is smoothed with diamond polishing wheels. Finally, it is mounted into a bezel of tarnish resistant Argentium® sterling silver.

The colors will not fade over time -- they are as permanent as the brilliant colors in ancient stained glass windows.

Over the years, I'ved learned silversmithing skills and started to add silver to my ornamental turnings. I also learned the basic techniques of guilloche and wanted to add colored enamel (glass) over the surface. After taking several enameling classes, I found that I really enjoyed the artistic expression that is possible with the addition of colors. Wood didn't allow much in the way of color, so I invested more time to developing my enameling skills.

Much of my work is inspired by the beauty of Arizona -- the mountains, the deserts, the sky, the sunsets, and the wildlife. My goal is to express how I see the beauty of nature around me.

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Quilted Stone Pendant

"Quilted Stone"

Pendant

Earrings3

"Colors on Gold Foil"

Pendant

GoldFlowerPendant

"Gold Flowers"

Pendant

tn_Bola3

"Sunset Raven"

Bola Tie

tn_Bola2

"Milky Way"

Bola Tie

tn_Bola1

"Sunset Hills"

Bola Tie

tn_RedbudW2

"Redbud Branch"

Pendant

tn_MilkyWay

"Milky Way over Thumb Butte"

Pendant

tn_Comet

"Comet Earrings"

Earrings

tn_Confetti

"Confetti Earrings"

Earrings

tn_Hummingbird3

"Hummingbird"

Pendant

tn_GinkoEarrings

"Ginko Earrings"

Earrings

tn_MonumentValleyFramed

"Monument Valley"

Framed on Easel

tn_Pleiades

"Pleiades Sunset"

Pendant

tn_BWHills

"B&W Hills"

Pendant

tn_Bubbles

"Champagne Bubbles"

Earrings

tn_PurpleHills

"Purple Hills"

Earrings

tn_RedbudWhite

"Redbud Flowers"

Pendant

tn_Drop4

"Dove on teardrop"

Pendant

tn_Drop2

"Drop"

Pendant

BlueButterfly

"Blue Butterfly"

Earrings

OrangeButterfly

"Orange Butterfly"

Earrings

Arizona

"Arizona"

Pendant

tn_Hummingbird

"Hummingbird"

Pendant

tn_Opal

"Australian Black Opal"

Pendant

tn_Triangle1

"Triangles"

Pendant & Earrings

tn_Triangle2

"Triangles 2"

Earrings

tn_PalmLeaves

"Leaves"

Earrings

tn_TriangleBlue

"Blue Triangles"

Earrings

tn_Saguaro

"Saguaro Cactus"

Earrings

tn_Snow

"Snow on Mountains"

Earrings

tn_Drips

"Drips"

Earrings

tn_Leaves

"Leaves"

Earrings

tn_Leaf

"Leaf"

Pendant

tn_HorseHead

"Horse Head"

Earrings

tn_BlackRaven

"Black Raven"

Earrings

tn_RavenMoon

"Raven & Moon"

Earrings

tn_RavenDipper

"Raven & Moon"

Pendant

tn_Ravens

"Ravens"

Earrings

tn_Piccacho

"Piccacho Peak"

Pendant

tn_Lightning

"Desert Lightning"

Pendant

tn_Yucca

"Yucca"

Pendant

tn_Wave

"Waves"

Earrings

tn_FallLeaves

"Blue Triangles"

Earrings