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About Chris Ploof
While growing up in Massachusetts, Chris used to visit a local living history museum. He spent hours watching the craftspeople work. It was amazing to watch tools, hands and hearts make complex items of great beauty. He would then go home, and using whatever was at hand, re-enact what he had seen.
"Thirteen years ago, the desire to recreate what I had watched being hammered out was overwhelming - my head was full of ideas - and with the help of a forge improvised from a 55 gallon drum, some fire bricks, and a hairdryer, my career in metal-smithing was launched. I felt something was missing, however."
Chris found the missing link when he started taking jewelry making classes. He felt at home with jewelry scale items. He has studied with well known artists such as Steve Midgett and Bruce Paul Fink and apprenticed under goldsmith Neal Rosenblum. Chris's eclectic educational background includes studies in everything from large-scale casting and lampwork beadmaking to lapidary and polymer clay, blacksmithing and machining. "I am inspired by historical styles and methods, but I also love exploring new techniques and materials, pushing the envelope of current and accepted techniques. Challenges always seem to lead down long roads even after they have been met, and spawn many future ideas and designs for me." "I approach my work with an open mind, ready to learn new things about my medium. My sense of humor is my greatest asset when things don't go as planned. The best discoveries can come from the biggest mistakes. Impossible is only a temporary condition."
Chris' studio is located in Rhode Island. Here he designs and hand crafts several lines of exclusive production jewelry, as well as many custom pieces. He has taught metalsmithing and lectured at many schools and shows across the United States.
Chris Ploof Designs
His designs feature meteorite iron, damascus stainless steel, colored golds, palladium, platinum and silver, as well as quality gemstones which he uses to make wearable objects of art.
His expertise in the use of difficult to work materials and the manufacture of mokume gane allows him to design and make beautiful treasures for a lifetime of enjoyment.
JCK Las Vegas Rising Star
Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Great News! Chris Ploof Studio has been selected as a Rising Star in the jewelry industry, and will be exhibiting at the JCK Las Vegas Design Center June 4-7th, 2010. This is a great opportunity for retailers considering carrying our work to come and meet Chris and some of his staff.
We were also recently selected as a runner up in the American Jewelry Design Council New Talent Competition.
Visit www.ChrisPloof.com
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