Tenacious Lilly is the joining of talents between Arianna Lee Swink and Jenny A. Newman.

Arianna Swink

Since 1994 I have been involved with craft fairs, doing bead and wirework, which initially sparked my interest in the field of jewelry and metalworking and focused my creative energy. I graduated from The University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth in 2001 with a BFA in jewelry/metals. I interned for a successful jeweler in Newport during the summer of 2000, then instructed kids at a fine arts camp in New York state in the basics of jewelry making, including bezel set stones, enameling, wirework, and beading. I was also an apprentice at Pegasus Artisans.

From a very early age I have been a creative spirit, drawn to nature. I have maintained an organic/natural influence in my art and metal work. The integrations of natural forces are of great interest to me. My work serves as a means of self-expression and exploration. Audience reaction to my work is individualized. These reactions are influenced by the personal memories of the viewer or wearer as well as the state of mind he or she is in at that particular moment. An important aspect is the physical sensation of the piece when it is worn. I make my work comfortable to wear as well as enjoyable. I think of my pieces as little experiences, rather than simply ornament.

I primarily work with a clean aesthetic, somewhat of a blend between natural and German aesthetics. I prefer to keep many of my pieces deceptively simple so that it remains a surprise for the viewer to discover the movement once it is handled. To be able to obtain such a dramatic effect with a simple movement is my goal. Sometimes this is achievable with a simple mechanism; however there may also be a more complex system behind it.

Overall there have been numerous contributing factors towards the development of my work and where it is now. Throughout my life and travels my attention has often focused on nature, its interactions, and how everything is integrated, as well as the interactions and behaviors of people; and I continue to explore these phenomena within my work.

Jenny A. Liscombe-Newman

Jenny graduated from The University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth in 2002 with a BFA in jewelry/metals and a minor in textile design. Jenny also apprenticed at Pegasus Artisans for three years.

Mike Johnson

I designed the site's layout with direction from Jenny and Arianna. All code is hand-written using the dynamic scripting language PHP, and utilizes a MySQL database for things like the Gallery and Guestbook. I currently work at the Cambridge-based travel dot-com Smarter Living, and freelance web design and scripting (such as this site) on the side. If you like what you see, please let me know! In addition, if you have any requests for or problems with the site, drop me an email at admin@tenaciouslilly.com. Finally, thanks go to Lunarpages for their full-featured and affordable hosting services. Enjoy the site!