Placer Artists Tour brings fulfillment, imagination, jewerly

Deborah Costa-Ries joins the 32nd annual Placer Artists Tour to showcase unique enamel jewerly and paintings. Ries' artistic journey began in the Bay Area with a different kind of wearable art: makeup. She worked as a licensed esthetician until she sustained a back injury that required her to stop. From there, she realized art was going to be her thing, as she always loved blending custom colors. This brought her into color theory classes for painting 2-D art in acrylic, pastel and watercolor. Around 25 years ago, Ries began to volunteer at a senior group where she learned how to create jewelry. She said the senior group would make gifts for their families. Her current process for making the jewelry includes: She and her husband cut copper to make shapes with a jeweler's saw or metal shears. Then, she prepares the cut out of copper pieces to be enameled, which is a form of powder glass. She enamels four to five layers using different colors to create interesting styles. She fires the enamel layers in a kiln or with a torch. After the pieces are done firing, she uses a product to seal them, which brings out the color. She also seals the jewelry findings, which makes the pieces hypoallergenic and tarnish proof. She stated her personal fulfillment of the art drives her to higher levels of imagination. "My heart and soul is energized by the creative process of adding color and eye-catching designs," Ries says. "I personally design my art in my studio, which allows me to expand my sometimes unconventional use of color. While working in my studio on my art I enter into a meditative state which calms my mind and lets me focus my creative energy. Ries is one of 110 artists on the Placer Artists Tour, which includes 72 galleries throughout the county. The tour offers an opportunity to meet artists, watch demonstrations and take home artworks and runs Friday through Sunday, Nov. 7-9, followed by an encore weekend Nov. 14-16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find the 72 locations of the tour, visit https://placerartiststour.org/map/. Ries will be at the Art League of Lincoln (location 36), 580 Sixth St.