Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Gourley.
Andrea, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am so happy that I was introduced to art at a young age. It has been the most influential time of my life. Ever since I can remember my mom has played an extremely important role in my passion and my talent. Growing up my sister and I were always playing around with watercolors and with whatever we had around the house to make art projects. It wasn’t until elementary school when everyone was asked what their favorite color was. I didn’t have one because I liked them all, so everyone called me “Rainbow Girl”. I wanted to continue learning about art and couldn’t because all my classmates wouldn’t pay attention. I told my mom how upset I was and she came in to help my art teacher with assisting her class one day and wound up doing it for the rest of the year. Everyone loved having her in my class, especially me, because she is extremely talented and I’ve always admired her for that.
My Memere (grandmother in French) is the reason my whole family has their own individual love for the arts. She has always been my inspiration for creating more art because the more you do the more you learn. Everyone in my family are very talented as well. Memere always told us to sign and date our work, which always made me feel that I accomplished something.
When I was in fifth grade, I got a huge set of glass beads and starting making simple jewelry for me and my friends. It was that moment I knew I loved jewelry making because you could make anything to match your outfits and the possibilities were endless.
Having grown up in Swampscott and walking the surrounding beaches, I used to collect a lot of sea glass and seashells. I would wrap the sea glass to make pendants and earrings. I tried painting it one day and loved how the paint looked on the front side of the sea glass. It made it look like different types of stones. I used clear nail polish to coat it so the paint wouldn’t come off.
My freshman year of high school the funding for my school’s art program was being cut drastically. My friend’s mom had told us about RAW Artworks. It was located in Lynn, MA and was a nonprofit organization for kids of all ages. So a small group of friends and I all went and checked it out. I remember the first time walking into RAW and I immediately felt at home. We were in “Women 2 Be”, a class that met once a week that explored all aspects of art. I cannot even start to explain how much RAW Arts has truly shaped me and pointed me in the right direction. Everyone who is affiliated with RAW is amazing. If it wasn’t for RAW I may not have apply to college.
I knew at this point I wanted to go to art school, so I applied to Massachusetts College of Art and got accepted! I wanted to go there to study glassblowing and ended up majoring in metals and jewelry making. Having all the tools and equipment readily available made it easy to apply all techniques I was learning. While attending college I took multiple painting and drawing classes and found my own style of painting which is mainly abstract.
I now currently make driftwood jewelry. The main reason is because my Memere painted me as a mermaid on a piece of driftwood for my birthday a few years ago. She had inspired me to collect my own driftwood and I was able to combine my love for the beautiful colors of paint, nature and jewelry. I am so blessed with such a talented and loving family that I have no idea where I would be without all of them.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
For the most part it has been a smooth road. With the love and support from my family, I’ve always been able to figure out my challenges. They always steered me in the right direction, which has guided me to the special place I am in now. My current obstacles now are balancing a part time job, being a mom, a wife and an artist. It isn’t easy but if it wasn’t challenging than it wouldn’t be exciting. My mom always said you can do anything you put your mind to.
Please tell us about ANGDesignsInfinity.
I currently paint and make jewelry. My focus in the last few years has been finding natural driftwood along the Plum Island beaches and using them as pendants. I live on the Island so every piece is made here. I paint the driftwood and coat each piece with multiple layers of a non-toxic sealer. I then wrap them in either silver or copper wire. I prefer to use a leather cord, as it does not tangle easily. I also use sterling silver chains.
Most of my custom orders have stemmed from working at my current job of 6 years, PI Beachcoma, where I feel I have formed a fan base of loving and caring local residents. I love seeing the faces of people when they receive their gifts! It is the greatest sense of fulfillment. Every piece is distinctive and drives me to create more.
The question I have always had in the back of my mind is “What haven’t you seen, Andrea?” It can be challenging to make jewelry that hasn’t been made before. I rarely make two of the same pieces. I love making one of a kind things because it should be as unique as the people who wear them.
I still love painting and creating custom paintings for friends and clients. I do a lot of beach scenes due to having grown up by the water. I love using acrylics, gouache and watercolors.
Contact Info:
- Email: Angdesigns9@gmail.com
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