2020 Frank Davis Scholarship recipient Mason Johnston has been focusing on his passion for jewellery since enrolling at The Learning Connexion in 2018. Now working towards a New Zealand Diploma in Creativity (Level 6), we had a chat with Mason about his work.
Hi Mason - what's your aim as an artist?
As an artist I'm very focused on my projects. My aim has been to make very complicated pieces to see how far I can push my skills.
Where does the inspiration for your work come from?
I love nature and trees, the interlocking roots and the colours, so a lot of my jewellery has some of those elements in them. I’ve cast twigs into silver for rings, carved roots into wax in my designs, sawn out leaves to solder onto pendants.
What do you like about The Learning Connexion?
I love the friendly environment at The Learning Connexion, the fact you are free to create in almost every medium from drawing to digital or glass. If you ask for help someone will take the time to talk you through what you're trying to do. The tutors are so knowledgeable and really want you to succeed, making studying here a really great experience.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’ve been trying to make something that looks very professional for a while and I recently made a bracelet. I really wasn’t sure how it would look, but when I finally finished it, it was exactly how I wanted it – dainty and clean. It really showed me how far I’ve come and how much TLC has taught me.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years I'd love to be making big elaborate pieces and showing them at exhibitions or working fulltime with a jewellery apprenticeship.
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