Louise O’Hara

I am a jewellery designer and maker based in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Using mediums such as polymer clay, metal leaf and resin, I am inspired by a love of colour and texture to create these bright little artworks for your ears.

Q&A

Artist Statement

I discovered polymer clay in my teens, 25 years ago now, and was immediately obsessed. The possibilities with this medium are endless and I love every day of experimentation and discovery. Culu Design was born from my own obsession with earrings, and a burning need to create something beautiful and uplifting. No matter how you feel , these earrings will always make you feel better, THAT is what inspires me. I know it, I feel it, and I must share it!

What craft do you work with?

I am a jewellery designer, focussed mainly on earrings as they are my personal obsession. I have always been a statement earring wearer and a creative, so back in 2000 I was inspired to take my hand at making my own designs. I started with beading, and after discovering polymer clay over 20 years ago now, have never looked back. I find great joy in exploring new techniques, the possibilities with this medium are truly endless. I am currently really enjoying experimenting with different textures in the clay, everywhere I look I see objects I can repurpose.

What inspires you to work with this craft?

I am inspired by my own obsession with colour and earrings. I enjoy wearing statement earrings as an extension of my own personal style and I know how they make me feel taller and more confident. They always fit, no matter what kind of day you’re having. For many years I was making earrings only for myself, but now I am driven to share the beauty and joy of a statement earring with the world. I LOVE to use polymer clay, and that will remain the base for my designs, but I also use additions such as metal leaf, silver wire, pastels and pigments.

How do you start your creative process?

I start usually with a feeling, an emotion, an affirmation almost. What am I trying to convey with this piece, where are they being worn, by who? Then on to a drawing, an idea on paper. From there I get stuck into the clay, mixing colours, figuring out the palette. Softening, rolling and shaping the clay. I never really know exactly where I’m going until I’m deep into this and more often than not I end up with something completely different to the original drawing, it is an intuitive process.

How would you best describe your workspace and what tools could you not do without?

I work from my studio at the end of my garden. My workbench is central to everything I do. It’s a small space, so as a result I am hyper organised, every little thing has it’s place! There are many tools that are central to my craft that I could not be without, most importantly my clay machine, my dremel hand tool and my tissue blade.

Are there new techniques you would like to try?

I am interested to learn more about enamelling, I have the tools and just need to find the time to explore. And I would love to one day get in to metalsmithing.

Sharing your craft and experience?

Keep going. You are rarely great at something in the beginning, keep practising and learning and your craft will improve. There’s so much to learn from every failure. Also to find a community, be it online or in your local area. Many of us work alone for long periods of time, and someone to bounce ideas off and connect with is priceless.