Austin Titus of August Nine Designs

Austin Titus of August Nine Designs:

I've been making jewelry in one form or another for as long as I can remember, so it seemed natural to pursue a career in metal-smithing and jewelry making. In 1990 I enrolled in Virginia Commonwealth University and majored in Crafts which continued to nurture my passion for jewelry design as well as foster my respect for the process and technique of making jewelry.

For the next eight years I lived on an island surrounded by the rhythm of the sea and the lush green of the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by the beauty around me, I spent long hours at the bench experimenting, making mistakes and yet ultimately refining my technique. In 2001 I gave birth to my son August (Gus). Necessity being the mother of invention and due to the various limitations imposed by having a child in the studio, I began to incorporate more beads into my work.

I love what I do and feel very fortunate to be designing jewelry for a living. I see my work as an ever-evolving process which has its own natural progression. My work embodies all that inspires me – sweeping lines, rich colors and sensual textures – and the constant challenge of striking a balance between these elements.