February Featured Artist: Tynessa Walters

February 2019’s Featured Artist is Tynessa Walters, a jewellery designer, goldsmith and jewellery teacher. Walters has always been a highly creative person, has always been drawn to metal and gemstones, and loves to work with her hands – creating jewellery is truly the perfect career for her.

Walters studied goldsmithing at George Brown College. Over the past decade or so, she has worked in various roles within the jewellery industry in Toronto, and has eventually shifted from primarily creating art jewellery to creating fine jewellery with gold and gemstones, such as sapphires and diamonds. In the summer of 2018 she decided to relocate to Brant County to turn her custom work business – Tynessa BoBessa – into a full-time job!

Most of Walters’ pieces are custom made, from wedding and engagement rings to jewellery redesigns. She creates works that she says are “not just jewellery, but miniature artworks and future heirlooms.” One of the aspects of her job that she enjoys the most – other than “playing with fire and staring at gems all day” – is working closely with her clients. She loves to make their dreams into a reality, and is honoured when someone allows her to be a small, but meaningful, part of their lives.

Her career as a professional artist has not come easy. She notes that it takes a great deal of hard work, dedication, perseverance and a substantial investment of time and money. “Practice your medium, dedicate yourself to learning your craft, and always be creating,” she says. She also notes that networking is incredibly important for creative professionals. “Network within your field,” she notes, “but also outside of it as well. You never know who you will meet or what doors may open for you.

Walters teaches jewellery making workshops at the Cotton Factory in Hamilton, and is also in the process of establishing her own jewellery school and studio (email her at tynessa@gmail.com to get on her mailing list to learn about upcoming classes!

For more information about Tynessa BoBessa, check out Walters’ website, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts, and remember to follow her to have her beautiful work regularly showing up in your newsfeed.