Past Artists - Linda Rajotte

Linda is a mathematics teacher who has created art all her life. In fact, she believes mathematics is an art in itself – but that is another story. She has studied art at university, while doing my degree in mathematics, and over the years she have taken courses in drawing, watercolour painting, acrylic painting, fabric art, theatre, writing, dance, and most recently many courses in working with precious metals.

"I love to create one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces and strive for balance in an asymmetrical way. My inspiration comes from nature, in particular, the ocean. I often

incorporate stones, shells, feathers, leaves, and other natural objects from local islands or seashores to create my silver designs. In addition, I use paua shells (abalone) from New Zealand in many pieces. I find the ever-changing green/blue colour of this shell combines with the silver to create a lovely combination. This colour inspires me to use the many varieties of turquoise stone in my work. I want it to breathe west coast."

All of the silver pieces that Linda creates are “fine silver” (99.9% silver). The process she uses to make them involves working first with the silver in a “clay” form (which is actually microscopic particles of silver suspended in an organic binding). She finds it interesting to combine this rather new way of doing silver work with an ancient art called “Viking knit”, to create different and unique pieces. Linda weaves sterling silver wire to form complete bracelets and also as an accent combined with gemstones.