About

Ana dos Santos is the artist behind GarnetGirl Studio. She studied fine arts and illustration at the Lesley College of Art and Design (formerly known as the Art Institute of Boston) in MA, graduating with a BFA in 1992. She later pursued studies in art therapy and counseling, graduating from Lesley University with an MA in Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy.

While pursuing her studies in fine arts, Ana was drawn to the mediums of color pencil and oil paints, paying close attention to the subtleties of her subject matter, whether it was a figure or an object and especially enjoyed working  on small works of art. Although she began working on a larger scale, she was always interested in the intimate aspect of a smaller work of art.

It’s no surprise then, that years later, she has turned her attention to the art of jewelry making where metal becomes the “canvas”, gemstones the “palette” and the saw, hammers and files the “brushes”.  Ana is especially intrigued by how such aggressive tools and seemingly unyielding materials can be transformed and coaxed into such delicate and beautiful jewelry.

Ana’s background in the arts is evident in the way she chooses and approaches her materials.  As an artist and art therapist, she is very much engaged in the creative process and doesn’t usually have a design in mind. Rather, she has a more intuitive approach where she lets the materials ‘speak” for themselves.

Ana’s informal metal-smithing training began with a basic jewelry class at the Cambridge Adult Ed. This started a love affair with jewelry making.  She later rented studio space at Joy St. Studios in Somerville, MA where she was also mentored by a master jeweler. Ana continues to take various workshops to further advance her skills and vision.

Her work is influenced and inspired by the natural world, travels, her fascination with antique Portuguese filigree jewelry and by the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi Sabi, or the art of the imperfect. 

Ana has shown/sold her work at various craft fairs in MA, including Joy St. Studios, the EtsyHandmade Market in Somerville MA and the Beverly Town Day Market among others. She also has her work for sale at Uni-T Store at the Natick Mall in MA.

 Ana’s studio is at the Zeitgeist Gallery and Studios in Beverly, MA where she makes all her hand-crafted jewelry and continues to paint and draw.

You can see her other shop jewelry at Etsy.

www.etsy.com/shop/GarnetgirlStudio

www.facebook.com/pages/Garnetgirl-Studio/187994657887893?fref=nf

Instagram - @Garnetgirl1