A self-taught polymer clay artist, Baltimore’s Amy Blair designs playful, patterned jewelry inspired by her travels and a curiosity about different cultures.
The artist: Born in Seoul, South Korea, and adopted when she was three months old, Blair grew up in Baltimore. She studied jewelry and metals for a few years at Towson University before deciding to pursue her business, which she had already been working on since high school.
Blair started creating her current body of work after traveling to Japan in 2010. The self-taught polymer clay artist came back wanting to translate the feeling of the culture she had explored into her work.
The studio: Blair’s little studio is on the second floor of the house she shares with her husband and two cats in Parkville, MD.
The art & materials: Polymer clay jewelry, using patterns from watercolor paintings and textile prints she finds on travels.
Favorite or go-to tools: Clay cutters, with random geometric shapes, that she made herself. Also, a stamp that has her business name on her clay pieces.
“I bought it in Japan, and it makes me smile,” said Blair.
What’s popular:
- Sandstone earrings ($38). The cool stud earrings, with a layer of geometric shapes, were inspired by an outdoor climbing trip.
- Gardenia necklace ($48), her best seller, is a beautiful collection of pattern leaves bordered by glass pearls.
Other favorites:
- Dakota earring ($40), with its layers and midcentury modern shapes, and the Waterfall earring ($50).
Inspirations: Mainly from her travels and outdoor adventures, like snowboarding and rock climbing.
“I take my sketchbook everywhere and create patterns I feel capture the moments I’m experiencing or color palettes that describe the place I’m in,” said Blair.
- Japanese Zen aesthetic principles, such as Seijaku, which strives to create an energized calm.
- German industrial designer Deiter Rams, especially his minimalist approach to design.
Fun or special project: Created a special pin for her father who works for NASA on the James Webb Telescope. To create the pin, Blair used the telescopes iconic mirrored gold honeycomb pattern. He wore it when he recently gave a talk.
What’s next: American Craft Made show in Baltimore, March 3-5.
Where to buy: sunahjewelry.com
Get social:
- Instagram: @sunahblairjewelry
