Anna van Ness

Background

About Anna van Ness

I started working with metal and making jewelry in high school, around 2015. It soon became more than a hobby, and I decided to attend the Rhode Island School of Design to further my craft. During my time at RISD, I acquired skills in many areas of art and design, including graphic design, photography, drawing, printmaking, and jewelry and metalsmithing. I worked while in school, finding employment in the jewelry department and elsewhere on campus, and at a Providence UU church as an assistant in the religious education program. Working in an office setting encouraged me to pursue an open position at my favorite place on the RISD campus, the Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab. I worked as the Operations and Engagement Coordinator until my move to the finger lakes region of New York in mid-2023, from where I continue to provide assistance remotely. I was delighted to find a strong focus on the arts and the natural world in my town of Trumansburg and the nearby city of Ithaca. A post shared by a family member led me to Laurel O'Brien's jewelry studio, a tiny and sparkly space where I am so happy to be a bench jeweler and studio assistant. I'm gaining an understanding of what it means to support yourself as an independent artist, and the grit and dedication that it takes. I plan to transfer this experience into starting my own business as a maker of beautiful things.