ASHKA DYMEL

Today we visit the Krasiński Palace in Warsaw, Poland.

The striking fortress built over three centuries ago, is a marvel of detailed sculptures and interior designs heavily based in the baroque style.

Poland is also the former home of featured jewelry designer Ashka Dymel.

When it comes to apparel and jewelry people have certain style preferences.

A particular preference is not necessarily a reflection he or she does not like other styles; however, style preferences may indicate what a person feels most comfortable wearing.

Even jewelry designers can fall into the habit of shying away from one aesthetic while embracing another.

Dymel, an alumna of New York's Parsons the New School for Design, is a purist for form receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Environmental Design.

Since opening her Brooklyn, New York studio two decades ago, Dymel's design approach strictly adheres to the clean lines of geometric forms with little demarcations of structure or color accents.

"Although jewelry making provided me with a sense of creative freedom and control that my architectural training lacked, I always shied away from traditional stone setting techniques," she says.

"I have a keen interest in geometry, structure, and modular designs. In recent years, however, being a mother has had a profound effect on my creative process.

My work is more playful, intuitive, less symmetrical, and controlled. I allow unexpected elements of chance to play part in the process."

Dymel's collections span orbital trajectories; the stunning Kumbu technique contrasting 24-karat gold against sterling silver; her inclusion of flexible steel; and unique, freshwater stick pearls.

Her Jeweled Ovals and Dancing Squares Collections highlight Dymel's exploration into color contained witin linear forms like hearts, circles, squares, and rectangles.

The subtle mix of hues between semi-precious beads of carnelian, citrine, labradorite, aquamarine, and tourmaline fade or intensify going from shades of dark to light like the sun along the horizon.

"After many years of creating monochromatic work, I started using color and I feel more like a painter now than an engineer," she enthuses.

"I create impressionistic compositions with fields of color broken up into small elements. Each bead is like a drop of paint becoming part of the color field."

The tiny, luminous beads resemble exotic caviar or jellybean candies packed side-by-side within open outlines of sterling silver. The granules of color draw you in increasing visual interest, and personality.

Currently serving as a Visiting Professor with the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, the jeweler's minimalist, colorful jewelry pieces are distributed through the Aaron Faber Gallery in New York; the Chicago Architecture Foundation in Illinois; and the Freehand Gallery in Los Angeles, California.
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Photo 1 (top right): 18-Karat Bi-Metal and Sterling Silver Leaf Brooch with Multi-Colored Semi-Precious Beads
Photo 2 (bottom left): Sterling Silver Heart Necklace with Citrine, Green Garnet, Lemon Quartz, Peridot and Tourmaline