Featuring Argentium Expert & Instructor - April Bower

3 days ago
2 min read

This month we're delighted to shine a spotlight on talented jeweller, instructor, and long-time Argentium advocate April Bower.

Known for her love of texture and form, April creates jewellery that celebrates the beauty of organic surfaces while maintaining exceptional craftsmanship.

Through the use of mixed metals, rolling mill patterns, and her unique approach to granulation - she combines richly textured details with the bright brilliance of Argentium Silver to create striking and wearable pieces.

We caught up with April to learn more about her creative journey, her passion for teaching, and how Argentium Silver continues to inspire her jewellery making.

A little Background Information

As a young artist I was curious about all mediums and explored many of them, but working with metal is the one that 'stuck'. I have been lucky enough to learn from many fabulous metalsmiths, but indeed teaching is a great education, because you learn how much you do not know. And if you are worth a damn, you’ll do your best to find out.

I got a job teaching metalsmithing straight out of college, then went on to professional bench work for 20+ years. I am now back at teaching, as well as making… full circle. In 2020, Covid forced my hand on the desire to offer online instruction, which was challenging for this non-techy person. Now I love it, and offer both live and recorded instructions to people all over the world.

Deep V Ring and Starry Starry Night Earrings

A Love of Texture

I love texture - this is often what inspires a piece or collection.

The randomness of reticulation, the even sparkle of burnished dust and patterns created on the rolling mill excites me to use these techniques to create wearable pieces.

Texture and forming are my things and heavy texture presents best with contrast. I do things a little non-traditionally in terms of granulation and texture - contrasting with polished beautiful bright-white metal that Argentium is. I love an organic look, but feel this should not be a cover up for poor craftsmanship and needs to be intentional, not just a mistake. But hey, we all do make mistakes and have unplanned things happen. Often my best pieces are a result of having to do a work-around from an 'oops'. It forces an outside-the-box view of the possibilities.

Waters Edge Bracelet & Mosaic Pendant

Finding Argentium Silver

Firescale [firestain] had always been my nemesis!

In 2006 I saw a graphic microscopic photo of the depth of oxidation that was firescale on sterling silver and another on Argentium Silver... I was sold!!!

I've used Argentium for most all my work since then. The joy of fusing it came much later - no solder spills to clean if you don't use any!