Coming from a 17 year background as a make up artist specializing in television commercials, Lora Hart brings her love of precision and highly detailed finishing work to jewelry making.

She's had a thorough education in metalsmithing and wax casting and enjoys combining these skills with her metal clay work. Lora has had photos of her jewelry published in PMC Guild Annual volumes #1,#2 and #3; Sherry Haab's Metal Clay and Mixed Media Jewelry; Tammy Powley's "Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay jewelry" and Barbara Becker Simon's "Metal Clay Beads".

Lora has also authored numerous articles on metal clay in Studio PMC and Step By Step Bead magazines.

Metal clay is an amazing material for creating shapes and forms that would be extremely difficult or even impossible to accomplish with other, more traditional jewelry making methods. The ability to create hollow objects, drape and stretch the clay into intricate and sensual contours and crisply carve into it's surface fascinates me and inspires many of my finished designs.

I come from a very detail oriented background and my focus hasn't strayed too far from those roots. I love to create my own textures using many methods including etching my own copper texture plates; burning photopolymer plates (PPP's), ripping tear away sheets and carving polymer clay. I'm also dedicated to ensuring that finishing is accomplished in a professional and thorough manner. Even with designs that are more organic and free form, fine finishing lets the viewer know that individual details were intentional and not the result of poor or haphazard workmanship.

I've taught throughout the greater Los Angeles area for the past 6 years in Jr. College extension programs, bead stores and at Otis College of Art and Design. I've also been invited to present workshops at large national bead shows such as Beadfest and the Puget Sound Bead Festival.

You can reach me at LoraHartJewels@Earthlink.net . I'm much better at returning e-mails than I am phone calls, but you can find my phone number on my website www.LoraHart.com . My site also has lots of valuable information including a FAQs page; Tips and Tricks and links to my blog and class schedule.