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 Paddy Lewis Irwin

Enumclaw native, Paddy Lewis Irwin joins the Arts Alive team with a collection of her current jewelry designs.

 

This collection of unique, precious metal art and jewelry was designed and individually hand-crafted by Paddy Lewis Irwin at her metals studio in the shadow of Mt. Rainier.

Paddy combines her passion for art with the simple beauty of the farmland and natural majesty that surround her and inspire her creations.

An Enumclaw native and graduate of the Enumclaw High School art program under Sylvia Neth, she has followed a diverging career path always rooted in the arts. Currently a substitute secondary teacher she is devoting more time to the “jewelry side of things”. Past work with students in metal shop and welding programs has evolved to focus on a prior interest and experience in the jewelry business.

With a maturing family she has found the time to produce a collection of jewelry with emphasis on the life of the plateau…flowers, cattle, horses and the creative designs and cultural arts of Northwest Indian artists. This line evolved from commissioned works for devotees of her work as the family has traveled nationally over the past fifteen years showing and selling their Hereford cattle. “People would notice different belt buckles, and pendants or key rings I had made and ask were they could get similar ones…I would explain I had done the work, and could make a custom piece reproducing the likeness of their animal, brand or logo... And it just turned into a small business with customers throughout the northwest and in Texas, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado and the California-Nevada areas.

 

Paddy prefers to work with silvers, copper and brass, in combination and individually to capture the beauty of her studies. The patina Paddy develops in the metals are unique to each piece. The metal’s ability to “come to life” when exposed to the elements allows each piece to be individual, unique and evolving. While the elements effect the coloration and luminescence of these pieces through their creation, the process continues through everyday use. This is the natural process and what will make each creation uniquely yours to treasure.