8 Questions
Marc is a sailor and jewelry designer with a floating studio and a love for being on the water locally and around the world. We love the dichotomy of natural and precious materials in his collection and Marc’s fascination with and inspiration from the open seas.
Describe the moment you realized art fed your soul.
I have always done something with my hands: carve some wood, draw, paint, print photos, build small boats… since I can remember.
What themes do you pursue in your art?
My jewelry is often geometrical, lots of triangles, rectangles, etc, and sometimes inspired by Art Nouveau. In my painting, it is mostly representational, from photos of my travels, if not en plein air.
Tell us about what influenced your direction for the jewelry you create?
I travel by boat around the world, as a captain and a coach, and for pleasure. In my jewelry, I use what I have collected and find interesting. I love discovering beautiful beach stones from the Pacific Ocean with their different colors, textures and veins, and I decorate them with inlaid gems, including diamonds, opals and citrines, fabricating them into rings and pendants. I use rough diamonds, too, especially for stacking rings — they are raw and naturally beautiful. I’m also newly working with copper and making necklaces from copper with druzies, pyrite, pearls and more.
How has your work developed over time?
Being self taught, my work evolves with the new materials I find; the challenge starts in how to set, cut and inlay the new treasures so someone is willing to wear them.
What’s the most indispensable item in your studio?
Because I fabricate all my pieces, my propane/oxygen torch is the tool I use constantly.
Do you collect anything?
I always collect things. Sometimes I find superb pieces for my jewelry in the most unlikely places. I never know when a rare something will show up, so I’m always on the look-out.
What’s the most inspiring thing you’ve seen, read, watched or listened to recently?
Last week at a cinema club I saw “Introducing Princess Shaw,” an amazing documentary of a lone black singer in the US helped by an Israeli musician to get discovered. All using many musicians who post music on YouTube. This is showing the good side of new technology.
What advice would you give to your younger self about your artistic journey?
Go to art school instead of engineering school, paint every day and keep on learning with other artists.
Come explore Marc’s work at Poet and/the Bench. If you’d like more information about his jewelry, please do get in touch,hello@poetandthebench.com or 415–569–4383.
Until next time,
Bonnie & Jeffrey
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hello@poetandthebench.com | 415.569.4383 | 10E Locust Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941