Parts + Materials
Over the years, I’ve explored many techniques and raw materials to create my designs.
Through extensive training and my own personal research, I've learned to adapt, mold, treat & configure a variety of materials to achieve designs at the interface of art & science.
These materials – shown in this gallery – form the basis of my meticulously designed, handcrafted artifacts.
Select any image for more information on that material.
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– Terri Powell, ArtSci designs
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Polymer clay is not a mineral clay – it's actually a low temperature curing, thermoset polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. It's malleable prior to curing – hence its designation as a clay. A wide variety of effects can be created by exploiting the native properties of the material.
A soft, lustrous and malleable alloy that is 92.5% by weight of pure silver and 7.5% by weight of other metals, usually copper. The latter gives the alloy strength while preserving its ductility and appearance. We heat, mold, patinate or reticulate the metal in our artifacts. Silver wire & beads are also key elements of our work.
Pure copper is a soft, strong, malleable and ductile metal, one of the earliest metals discovered. We heat, mold, patinate or otherwise manipulate it in the formation of our bracelets, brooches and pendants.
A metal alloy of copper and zinc in varying proportions – increased amounts of zinc provide the material with improved strength and ductility, while lightening its color. We then mold, patinate or use brass in vintage forms for the creation of our artifacts.
Plating is a manufacturing process in which a thin layer of metal coats a substrate, typically another metal. This can be achieved through electroplating or electroless plating.
A durable and flexible material created from tanning and dyeing animal rawhide and skin. Leather provides the backbone for certain bracelets or necklaces in our collections.
Stones (both semiprecious and precious), pearls, glass beads, and crystals provide intriguing and complementary accents to polymer clay in our work. We utilize a range of stones, including blue, brown and green imperial jasper, faceted, coin and stick pearls, as well as jade and garnets.