Leslie Welfare

"My muse is the beauty of my surroundings, it inspires me. Everywhere I look, I feel and see God's hand at work and it never fails to amaze me."

Leslie has had a long and varied career as a bookkeeper, painter, teacher, sculptor and seamstress.

The arts have always found a place in her life and her heart. She has worked in several mediums including watercolor, acrylics, photography, alcohol ink and metal clays.

For some time now, designing and fashioning jewelry in metal clays has become her major focus.

Metal clay is a clay-like medium used to make jewelry, and other small pieces. It consists of microscopic particles of metals (silver, gold, copper, bronze, steel) mixed with an organic binder and water. Metal clay can be shaped just like any soft clay; it can be easily rolled, carved, stamped, sanded, filed, engraved, drilled and pre-polished, all prior to firing. After drying, it can be fired in a variety of ways: kiln, handheld gas torch, or gas stove.

Leslie's venture into metal clay & jewelry design was at the encouragement of a fellow artisan who worked in the medium. She was very generous in sharing her knowledge. Leslie gained a wonderful skill set by sharing studio space, books and research until she felt confident with her work. Then she opened her own home studio. Leslie is fascinated by the beauty of the final product and the variety of techniques that can be used to create it.

Leslie has participated in shows in the Distillery District and the Beaches in Toronto, Mariposa Festival in Orillia and at the Muskoka shows, Art on the Severn and also at Fantasy in the Forest just north of Kingston to name a few. She also co-hosted artisan shows at the Steven Leacock home in Orillia.

You can see Leslie’s work here.