Andrea Covic

A reverence for geometry and colour

• Andrea learned woodwork from her grandfather, a carpenter
• She creates jewels with wood from her family’s forest in Croatia
• She likes asymmetry because it gives movement to her works

With an MA degree in painting, Andrea Covic set out to be a professional artist. She does actively paint and exhibit in Berlin, where she moved from Croatia in 2014. However, in parallel to this, for more than a decade her core business has shifted to handmade wooden jewellery making. Her grandfather used to be a carpenter, and Andrea spent so much time in his workshop as a child that she absorbed his craft. One day after he passed away, she entered his workshop and started using his tools. Woodworking came to her spontaneously and very simply, as though it were part of her genetics. At the beginning, she created small scale sculptures, but then she drilled a hole through one piece and her first ring was born. Today, Andrea's works have metal and hand-painted details, too.

Interview

©Jelena Vidic

©Jelena Vidic

What kind of wood do you use?

Ash, olive, oak, acacia, mulberry and many others. But protecting the ecosystem is key to me. For this reason, I only use branches and small pieces coming from regular seasonal cutting in my family’s small forest in Croatia, or leftovers from furniture production.

Can you describe the making process of your jewels?

After doing a sketch, I roughly cut the wood and incorporate the metal pieces I have made myself. Then I polish the wooden part, check the imperfections and either paint the piece or just soak it in oil for a day. Once it is dry, I finish it with beeswax for extra shine and protection. The assembly comes last.

Why is geometry such a big theme in your work?

In my opinion, geometry is the silent language of the universe and the magical underlay of creativity. I love to combine symmetry and asymmetry, in particular, as it creates movement and makes compositions dynamic and intriguing.

What is your approach to colour in your creations?

Some of them are in natural wood, but I also have hand-painted lines. Colour is crucial to me: along with composition, it is the most important part of my creative work. In general, I like to think of my jewels as small wearable abstract paintings.

Andrea Covic is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2007

Works

©Andrea Covic

©Studio InSzene

©Pablo Lopez

©Andrea Covic

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