Loretta Tryon

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Loretta Tryon is a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design and received her BFA in metalsmithing and abstract drawing. She is a juried member of the PA Guild of Craftsmen and is a member of the PA Society of Goldsmiths. Originally from Delaware County, Loretta has made the Lehigh Valley her home for the past 20 years. Residing and working in Coopersburg, her studio is a melding of metals, patinas, paint, and wax. Her work has been exhibited at The State Museum of Pennsylvania, The Reading Public Museum, The Allentown Art Museum, DeSales University and The Kimmel Center.   

Creative drive:
"My work seeks and translates forms found in nature and designs I create. I thrive on the spontaneity of creating one design that leads to the next in my work. I’m inspired by the human form, organic forms, patterns and my drawings. Positive and negative spaces play a prominent role in designing. By creating new templates and exploring the enduring qualities of metal I create jewelry and sculpture, balancing between chance and control."   

What is unique about your process:

"Using force and overlapping hammer blows to create something that seems fragile, graceful contours with dynamic tension eventually emerge. Hammering gives texture, tension and strength to the medium of metal. Attention to the surface opens the door for further visual interest. I use heat and chemicals to experiment with the possibilities of creating with metal. Piercing, cutting into the surface, fusing and patina are some ways I add detail to the metal. Patinas give metal a sense of depth and a quality of antiquity. Transforming the piece with each technique the composition becomes coherent."

Thoughts on sharing art:
"My intention is to create art, whether it is jewelry or sculpture that relates to my viewer’s sense of curiosity. The finished piece is permanent record of my personal experience. Each idea begins a new challenge each piece bridges my inner tension with the visual world."

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