Sisters and business partners Taya and Silvija Koschnick first learned the art of adornment by osmosis. Mentored by their mother, Ruth, who's a professional jeweler and owner of Bead Paradise (specializing in rare and ancient beads), the girls would hang out in mom's studio and store to watch her work.
Taya and Silvija share a love of jewelry and also an affinity for collaboration. Every piece they create for their Etsy store is a joint effort from the beginning sketch to the final work of art.
They began Tasi Designs in 2007, and had pieces purchased by the costume designer for the movie Twilight; the chain Rosalie wears throughout the movie and a beautiful necklace worn by Bella's mom.
Inspired by Susan's cast resin work with our signature ICE Resin™, Taya and Silvija learned her technique and adapted it to their distinctive style of jewelry.
Enjoy the beautiful designs created especially for objects and elements™ for their guest artist profile on our webzine. Be sure to read Taya and Silvija's Q&A to learn more about these truly inspiring and uber talented artists. Thanks ladies for graciously agreeing to be part of our objects and elements team!
Cast of fossilized walrus tusk pendant, made from ICE Resin and red Quinoa. 24k gold vermeil bead and red seed bead. Hand patinated sterling silver.
Cast of amber bead using ICE Resin and curry and cayenne powders. Hand patinated sterling silver.
ICE Resin cast of an antique West African coconut shell with black walnut crystals and hand patinated sterling silver.
How clever is this???? Stained coffee filter painted with ICE Resin, curry and cayenne powders in a 1970s painted brass finding. Hand patinated sterling silver wire and chain.
Cast of West African coconut shell bead with curry and cayenne powder and hand patinated sterling silver.
ICE Resin cast of antique Kwalia shell bead treated with rust colored ink. Hand patinated sterling silver and two antique Nigerian brass beads.
Interested in how Taya and Silvija achieve their gorgeous hand patinated look? You can find their step-by-step oxidizing class on the technique from Interweave Press. You can also read more on their blog.
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Name: Taya Koschnick
Artistic Medium: Hand patinated sterling silver, semi-precious gemstones, vintage components, ICE Resin, antique and ancient trade beads.
Q: What's your first memory of having a creative "right brain" mind?
A: I played in the woods a lot as a kid. I would gather little sticks, rocks, blades of grass, flowers, etc. and lay them out next to each other in little arrangements. I’ve always been inspired by the materials I collect and stash away.
Q: Of all the artistic mediums in the world to experiment with and choose from, how did you come to find your niche?
A: Our mother is a jeweler and she had her studio in our basement when Silvija and I were kids. I used to go down and watch her tumble silver, make bezels, and buff her pieces. Later, she opened a bead store specializing in rare and antique beads. I was enthralled with the stories behind each bead and wanted to know more. Before I ever made jewelry, I started collecting old beads and would carry them around in my pockets.
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: Collaboration is the most important tool in my tool box. Silvija and I create almost everything together, and we collaborate with friends, other designers, and instructors whenever we can. Growing up in a bead store, all of the employees would critique each other’s designs; constructive criticism has definitely made my designs stronger.
Q: Do you ever find yourself creatively blocked? What do you do to get through the hump?
A: It usually takes me an hour or two of playing around before my creativity really starts flowing, so I have to set aside enough uninterrupted time from the beginning. If that doesn’t work, I’ll look at magazines and books for inspiration (the Book of Botanical Prints is a favorite) or take a walk and come back to my work space later.
Q: What is your best advice for aspiring artists?
A: It depends on if you are creating work for yourself or to sell to customers. When Silvija and I first started Tasi Designs, we tried to make something for everyone: different styles of jewelry from plain and traditional to bold and bright. In the end we realized that our designs suffered because we were trying to imagine what other people would like, instead of going with what we knew we liked. Once we made the decision to focus on designs that we wanted to wear, a consistent aesthetic naturally developed within our work.
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Name: Silvija Koschnick
Artistic Medium: Handmade jewelry
Q: What's your first memory of having a creative "right brain" mind?
A: When I was young my parents always encouraged me to draw. Sometimes we would sit together and collaborate on drawings while making up stories about all the characters and places on the page. I remember thinking that anything I imagined could be translated into art.
Q: Of all the artistic mediums in the world to experiment with and choose from, how did you come to find your niche?
A: Growing up in my mother's bead store I was exposed to the vast history of beads and jewelry from a young age. I always found beads fascinating and I dabbled in jewelry design for many years. While I was studying art at Oberlin College, I found all of my projects, including jewelry design, to be enriched by working in different mediums.
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: A number of things! First and foremost, creative minds and collaboration inspire me. But I also love the technical side of machinery and art. For me, refined execution on a technical level lends a sense of grace and elegance to art. I want a customer to feel that my jewelry is a dynamic, movable object. The first time I saw John Payne’s sculptures I was struck by his use of motion, and I feel that my jewelry has never been the same since.
Q: Do you ever find yourself creatively blocked? What do you do to get through the hump?
A: If I ever feel creatively blocked, I set the project aside and accept that I won't get any where at that moment. I switch gears, I work in a different medium, I sketch design ideas, or sometimes I just prep earrings, until my brain has had a breather, and then I return to my project. Usually by that point, my concept for the design has completely changed, and I love running with it. I also carry notebooks with me at all times and I find myself constantly sketching ideas. Whether or not I get back around to them is a different story.
Q: What is your best advice for aspiring artists?
A: Find other artists whose work you admire and form communities with them, they will help keep you going and provide endless inspiration.
To learn more, check out Taya and Silvija's blog, website and store.
