Being a student of Aesthetics required learning tons of definitions of art. “Art is a skill, its display and application.” “Art is imitation.” “Art is creating beauty and harmony.” “Art is self-expression.” The ever-changing reality of what we find true from the above can be chaotic, and determining who’s an artist and who isn’t is a tricky question, with jewelry making being especially problematic. While most of the definitions were generously forgotten after I got my master’s degree, one of them stuck, because I agree with it for a 100%. According to that one an artist is a person who stirs the standing waters. With a new view, a new technique or maybe a new theme. I think a genuine idea and leaving the already proven ways is the thing which raises the author from being a “crafter” to being an “artist”. Several years ago my husband asked me if it’s possible to combine seed beads and classic jewelry making techniques. “I don’t think so” – I said, and forgot the question for a long time. Than I bumped into Cleopatra Cosulet.
Cleopatra Cosulet is a jewelry maker from Bucharest, Romania. In her signature style she combines tiny seed beads made of glass and sterling silver formed by soldering, sawing and granulating. Her earrings, rings, necklaces and brooches look like sculptures. The rigidity of the precious metal is in perfect balance with the beadwoven parts, which have a “soft” feeling and remind me of corals, flowers and textiles.
You will find here interviews with jewelry makers and fashion designers every second week. Together with them I wish you a pleasent time reading!
Please tell us about yourself and your brand a bit!
I am an adult who lives the wonder of discovering her vocation recently (four years ago). Since then, I tried to follow this path with an open mind and love for unicity. In my almost non-existent free time, I like to read. It became a luxury lately, and I do it with great pleasure as often as I can. My favorite autor is Mario Vargas Llosa. I love everything he wrote, but especially “Il hablador “. I also love Garcia Marquez ‘s “One hundred years of solitude”. And Durell’s same story, written from four points of view. And Marguerite Yourcenar ‘s “Testament of Hadrian “. And so much more…
How did your story as a designer begin? Do you remember the first piece you sold?
I begun making accessories for children, but soon a whole world of possibilities appeared, and I discovered new horizons to explore. Techniques, materials, ideas – all of them leading to the final piece of jewel which has to represent who I am. The first piece I sold was a bracelet, made of rope. I attended last summer one of the Assamblage – Contemporary Jewelry School courses, and I learned the basics about silver and how to work with it. But there’s much more to learn. Before beads and silver was cotton and recyclables. And leather and different sorts of textiles. They still are among my favorite materials, waiting for the right moment to be valorized.
Please tell us how does your average day look like! It’s so exciting to get to know more about the lifestyle of a designer!
The “designer” part of the day it’s not enough at the moment. I still have a full time job. And my beloved almost 7 years old daughter needs her mom, too 🙂 Therefore, there’s not so much time left to do creative things, but I try to be as organised as I can, in order to use wisely the free time I have.
What makes your designs stand out of the crowd of other designers? Which are your favorite colors, shapes, materials etc?
You have to establish if my designs stand out or not. I consider it exclusively your right, as of the target public. I only know that every single piece is made according to my inner self and based on my own way to process information. Until last years I was fascinated about creating shapes with strong similarities with their sources of inspiration, mostly from the nature around us. But now I feel very attracted by more abstract ways of expression. It’s a permanent challenge for me to try new materials, to learn to use them and to find a way to say my opinion about things around us in my own way.
For what kind of occasions can we wear your pieces? What’s the woman who wears your design like?
I think thay can be worn both for special occasions and everyday life. It depends on the person who wears them. That person can be anyone who resonates with the message transmitted through the jewelry.
Where does your inspiration come from? Do you have some rituals to boost your creative energy?
Everything inspires me. Nature, words, people, music, thoghts. Everything. And no rituals are established yet 🙂 I just let myself lead by inspiration and do things in a representative manner.
Do you have a piece of jewelry you made, that is somehow special to you?
All of them are 🙂 Because every one of them retains a fugitive thought in its material, concrete form.
If you could design something for a well-known person or maybe a fictional character from a film or book, who would it be, and why?
You surprised me with this question 🙂 Let’s think… It surely would be a challenge to work with a fashion designer. There are many I like, but my favorite is Issey Miyake. I would like to try to create shapes according to a specific piece or pieces of clothing. And characters… There are so many I like and admire! But according to my new trends and aspiration to abstract and contemporaneousness, best match would be something that would follow the same principles. Maybe a contemporaryClea, from Lawrence Durell’s tetralogy.
What kind of clothes and accessories do you wear? Who are your favorite designers and why?
My clothes are simple, but often unsusually matched. The accessories (as earrings , necklaces or rings) complete the outfit and gives it a personal touch 🙂 Because I just entered the strange and meaningful world of contemporary jewelry, there are no favorite designers yet. I discover them one by one, enjoying this travel. I love what Japanese and Chinese designers do regarding contemporary jewelry. I also love the trends set by the Alchimia School of Firenze. I love Doris Maninger, Gigi Mariani, Gualti and so many more.
What is your goal in the future? Where would you like to see your brand?
I’ll try to be myself everytime. That’s the more important thing to do for now and future. And I will try to learn and appply new techniques and use new materials. Or find new ways to use what I already know. It’s the right way for my brand to grow.
Where can we see and buy your designs?
On my personal page http://www.cleopatracosulet.ro or on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/RattleTattleAround. Looking forward to see you there!
Thank you very much for answering my questions, Cleopatra!
Tell Cleopatra Cosulet in a comment, how do you like her art!
And what do you think about the new series “Face to face!”
Whould you like to tell us more about your art and be featured in one of the upcoming interviews?
Don’t hesitate and drop me a line here 🙂
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