Jim Kinnie–artist interview

High school teacher by day, jewellery designer and creator by night, Jim has been making jewellery for about ten years. He got the bug shortly after his first March break in the Caribbean and played at first with simple semi-precious stone and glass bead bracelets and necklaces for himself, his family and friends, as well as kitschy Christmas earrings to add to his mother’s already large collection. He found creating jewellery to be a great stress-reliever after a day in the classroom and it also provided him with a great excuse to avoid marking.

Then he and his partner, Bill decided to try selling their wares at the local famers’ market in Georgetown and found an appreciative audience for Jim’s jewellery and the pottery Bill was making at the time.

Jim’s jewellery remained pretty basic and simple until a few years ago when he was asked to be part of a multi-artist show in Georgetown. He identifies that invitation as a turning point in his jewellery creations. Feeling that only works of art should be in a gallery show, he knew he had to attempt some things that he had never tried before. He was very surprised when he took his new work to preview them at the market the morning they were to be delivered to the gallery in the afternoon. He sold every piece at the market…and was then forced to stay up until the wee hours of the morning creating new pieces to suit the labels and prices previously posted.

He has never really looked back from that point and continues to create beautiful, and at times over the top, pieces of jewellery for his clients. Influenced by the Caribbean and lovely beach holidays, his work is colourful and playful. This season, a summer trip to Moreno was a real inspiration and he has been having a great time working with beads he found there.

Jim loves getting a new idea and running with it and he loves commissions for weddings and other special events. While they do prove to be stressful at times, he loves the creative that they provide him with and also the trust his clients place in him to make things just perfect.

He looks forward to sharing his latest creations with you this weekend at the second annual Mississauga Artisan Studio Tour.  www.artisanstudiotour.ca