Tim Garvin

Blue Bus Studio

Ceramic & Metal

Tim grew up on a wilderness coast 24 miles north of Juneau, Alaska. There were whales, bear and wild beauty everywhere. As an artist, Tim uses those vivid, natural colors to inform his jewelry.

​​Tim’s jewelry is completely handmade using numerous ceramic and metal techniques. The extreme detail and intense color in his work results from the use of over 500 different colors of clay in a technique known as millefiori (also called neriage). In this technique, carefully designed loaves of clay are formed from colored porcelains. Next, cross-sections are sliced from the loaves, and these sections are shaped and finished into individual pieces. After sanding and careful finishing, the piece is glazed and fired.

​​Thus, the color you see is the color of the clay itself, deepened and enriched by a layer of pure glass. On many pieces, 23+ karat platinum edging is applied, and the piece receives its final fire. “I make beauty from dust–a joy for me and, I hope, a joy for you,” says Tim.