Artist Profile

Ann Brooks

Novato, CA

Once asked, “In one or two words, what means the most to you in life?”, I was stunned that the answer, the realization, came in an instant: Creative Opportunity! My artistic expression, often three-dimensional, is an effort to create beauty and simplicity in functional objects. Art-to-Wear. Secret Pockets. Jewelry. Photography, even architecture!

As an artist, I’ve “worn many hats”, some of which are mentioned below.

I learned knitting and sewing at my mother’s knee and in the 1980s weaving was a natural. When I tired of the two-dimensionality of weaving I transitioned to simple beaded jewelry.

In the early 1990s, I branched out, taking metal smithing and fiber sculpture classes at College of Marin. Soon knitting re-entered. I began knitting wire – primarily fine gage electronics wire. Using a home knitting machine. I knit fine metal strips of various widths, cut and sewed various configurations together. I beaded the edges of the created earrings, necklaces and bracelets with delicate seed beads.

With my unique knit wire jewelry, participation in upscale, competitive craft shows followed. My work was featured in national magazines, books, and used in Hollywood costume design. My life as a fine art jeweler was from 1994 to 2001. That period is covered on my website: http://annbrooks.com/jewelry_archives.html

During the 2000s I traveled to faraway lands as a photographer. National Geographic used and reused an image. You’ll find more about the photography and other art at http://www.annbrooks.com

In 2008 I began designing jewelry with beads made by artisans from around the world, a collaboration, if you will. Beads I used were part of traditions handed down for generations. Creating that jewelry grew out of a fascination with exotic lands, which began in 1952 when my grandmother took me to Morocco (and Europe) as a teenager.

After over a decade’s absence from the fine art jewelry scene, in 2013 I discovered the potential of polymer clay as a fine art jewelry medium. I developed a line of contemporary art jewelry in this exciting post-modern medium.

In 2017 I returned to textile art. I designed and created wearable art which gave me a wonderful opportunity to mix textiles, both ethnic and contemporary. A great variety of textiles and embellishments have become my pallet for "Secret Pockets" What's the secret? Come to my studio and see!.

Current mediums in my studio are ethnic jewelry, fiber/textiles –”Secret Pockets,” archival travel photography and a limited collection of earlier knit wire jewelry.