Friday Feature- Josh Williams from TorcEmporium.Etsy.Com

Hello…
My name is Josh Williams, and I am the designer behind torc Emporium!

My Craft…
My work is focused on creating high-end all natural jewelry pieces for men. I work with materials such a gemstones, rock, wood, metal, hemp, cotton, and silk to create completely unique, one of a kind wearable art pieces that cater to the male spirit.

Here are a few of my most favorite recent pieces...

My Inspiration…
I'm inspired by the past and the future. I am a complete armchair philosopher and love digging in to where we've been as a species and where we're headed. I rely a lot on tribal, ethnic, and primitive jewelry architecture as well as modern advances in material presentation. I like to think that each piece I create is inspired by out shared past and a prayer for a greater future.

My AHA moment of being an Artist…
I have been creating since I was a kid. I think that the greatest influence on my creativity came from my parents involvement in the 1700's reenactment scene, Pow-Wow circuit, and Rendezvous gatherings. I was exposed to such a profound level of creativity, earth connection, and heart-felt art that I think it gave me permission to do the same for myself.

My Creative sides are ignited by…
Finding amazing gemstones, good days, great music, amazing people, and prayers.

My Masterpiece…
One of my favorite pieces available right now is called "Silence". This piece combines lava, tourmalinzted quartz, lapis lazuli, Czech glass, silver, and all of my most favorite textural fibers to create a men's bracelet that I find stunning. I actually made a clone of this piece for myself!

Apart from Crafting …
I love reading philosophy, theology, and spirituality texts, walking, gardening, music, and geology.

When I am busy creating …
Music! I have to have amazing music to fuel my work - usually ambient or ethnic. Some of the best background sounds for my work include Dead Can Dance, Steve Roach, Boards Of Canada, and Classical. I also rely a lot on natural light to help bring out the best in colors. I can create to bring myself out of a bad mood, or to perfect a great mood. I typically do one piece per day.

In ten years I would love to be…
Creating full time as a couture men's jewelry artist. I would love to expand my line and bring some of my sketches to life in the next few years as well. I want to inspire men to care for themselves, treat themselves, and to feel free to enjoy wearable art.

Places to look for me…
I am all about Etsy, and my Etsy shop gets first dibs on all my most recent work.

www.etsy.com/shop/TorcEmporium

You can learn more about me, see my entire gallery of past work, and get special offers and giveaways on my Facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/pages/Torc-Designs/317002365033735

I Tweet all of my new pieces, so please follow me at:

twitter.com/#!/torcdesigns