I recently had an a-ha moment about wearing my own art work as jewelry. It must have been like when someone discovered that bananas and peanut butter are a perfect combination. Like duh – it was right in front of me all the time. I like big statement jewelry, I collect weird vintage stuff and I make quirky art – together they could become a wearable match made in heaven!

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Remember when I made jewelry full time? Back when I was Naughty Secretary Club. Well I’ve been hearing the siren call of beads and baubles again. My latest designs are a combination of my first love jewelry and my new love making art work plus a lot of reworked vintage goodies.

Why I Make Wearable Art

I used to say that I made my own jewelry because I could not find anything out there as obnoxious as what I wanted to wear, same holds true for my art. I paint the things that I love and what I would want to hang on my walls. I feel like my hand painted jewelry is something like if Iris Apfel had an outsider art fever dream? I always say when buying art that my favorites are the pieces that you can’t tell if an artistic genius, a child or an escaped asylum patient painted it. Apparently I like my jewelry the same way.

Check out more Jennifer Perkins Art

Felicia’s Cut and Curl
Jennifer Perkins Art on Etsy
A Love Letter to Fishing Lure Earrings
Jennifer Perkins Art on Instagram

I’m loving painting these little faces. I’ve been using acrylic paint, markers, gel pens and more. They are all covered in a shiny protective top coat. I’m even thinking of dipping my toe into the world of polymer clay and making my own matching beads. Cruising Craig’s List looking for a toaster as we speak.

This series reminds me of shrunken heads. Apparently my friends like shrunken head jewelry too since I’ve been giving these away almost as fast as I can make them. Don’t worry there are still a few (and new ones coming) in my Jennifer Perkins Art Etsy Store.

So what are your thoughts on art you wear? Do you prefer to hang it on your wall and not on your neck? Are you like me and say the more art the merrier? Love to hear your thoughts. Oh and by the way did I mention I’ve started a Tumblr blog where you can see all of my artsy and crafty endeavors. Oh and I made a Facebook Live video with even more details!