David Vrooman, Asheville, Fine Handcrafted Jewelry

I stepped into sunny Ariel Gallery in downtown Asheville and said hello to fine jewelry craftsman, David Vrooman. I’ve been lusting after one of his unique handcrafted rings and so I wanted to talk with him about his art and the techniques he uses.

Fusing together precious metals is one his numerous techniques  – 18 K and 22 K gold and sterling silver.

Starting with sketches he begins the process of creation. Often, though, the sketches will only take him half-way and he must make adjustments to allow for the scale of the materials he is using and also allow the materials themselves to speak.

Texture is an important part of his jewelry and it is achieved through hammering, engraving, filing and cutting. A part of the creation process is to take the precious metals to an almost molten state, fusing together colored metals.

David, (Vrooman Designs), handcrafts fine jewelry that is expertly finished but not overworked. It is also a part of the detail of his craftsmanship that he is aware that this jewelry must fit into the day to day life of the wearer.

The results are unique and beautiful. No two pieces are ever alike.

David is one of 12 craftsmen at Ariel Gallery, a contemporary craft collective. Ariel is a craft co-op which means that the artists are responsible for all aspects of their business. The people you see working in the gallery are the artists themselves.

Ariel Gallery, Asheville crafts

Through his sensitivity to the materials he uses – the gold, sterling and precious stones- David creates fine handcrafted jewelry that celebrates the beauty of the material and also the expertise of the master craftsman.