My process, like my work, is so very simple.  Find it, collect it, transform it, wear it.  I find something mundane in nature- the maple seed on the side walk, the spiral of a succulent’s petals, the sprouting of a bud from a twig. Pick it up and add it to my collection, a collection of objects with no value themselves, but become valuable through the context of their collection. I transform the elements of my collection through the process of casting, creating a mold of the ephemeral specimen, surrounding it in plaster, burning it away, then replacing it with bronze, silver, and gold.  Although my initial treasure is destroyed in the process, it has become perennial. These cast elements become jewelry to be worn and treasured by another collector.

I am captivated by the magic of the casting process. I gather and arrange ephemeral organic elements, transforming them into precious pieces of jewelry through the lost wax casting process.

Each piece I create is one-of-a-kind, due to the unique characteristics of the organic materials and my own artistic spin on the process. I begin by placing plant materials into wet plaster to create a mold, which is then dried and fired in a kiln for 8+ hours. The heat of the kiln burns away the plant material, leaving behind a mold that can be used to cast molten metal. The resulting solid metal model is then transformed into a piece
of ready-to-wear jewelry.

Through this process, I am able to preserve and manipulate overlooked elements of nature, giving them value and reverence. The creation of my tree trunk arts jewelry is a truly magical experience, filled with moments of wonder at every stage. From the discovery and collection of botanical elements in the wild, to the heat of the kiln and the elemental transformation from organic to metal, I am constantly amazed by the power of the elements and the art of fire.

Collyn DeBano, from Oakland, MI, grew up with a love for nature and a habit of returning home from backyard adventures with anassortment of acorns and stones in her pockets. She founded Tree Trunk Arts while earning her BFA at Grand Valley. Now based in Detroit she creates jewelry from plants using the casting process to transform organic materials into metal. Her work can be found in galleries and retailers across North America and worn by those who appreciate the beauty of nature.