It's been a little while but we're back again with another exciting #meetthemaker interview with artist Naomi Southon, also known as Nimanoma. Naomi's fantastic jewellery is full of beautiful and colourful patterns set in resin, drawing inspiration from her background in biology as well as the forms and intricate details found in nature. All Naomi's items are created with great attention to detail, passion and care!
At school there were two subjects I really loved, art and biology. I continued studying these into A-level but took the safer option of studying Applied Biology at Leeds University. I went on to do a PGCE and taught at a primary school for 10 years before deciding to pursue my dream of being a working artist. This meant I could spend time with my small children and be there when they returned home from school as my mum had always done and focus on my creative work.
My husband and I met at Leeds University and so decided to stay in Leeds, we’ve been in our current house in Horsforth for 20 years now and I’m lucky as we are right on the outskirts of the town, bordering farm land. I often find inspiration on the walks we take in the countryside behind us.
As I mentioned before I studied Applied Biology at university and in that course I had to look at slides and specimens through a microscope and I loved the fact that what was invisible to the naked eye could suddenly be explored and admired. I do less cellular work now but I do take time to look at everything carefully and appreciate the beauty and amazing design of both plants and animals in the world around us. Nothing special, just the things in my back garden can reveal all sorts of cool things.
I like to spend time in the garden although not enough time! It is a bit wild and overgrown but the local wildlife loves it that way so I don’t feel too guilty. I also love a jigsaw, I don’t get many opportunities to do them but it’s always the first thing I pack when we are going away!
My favourites can change from day to day! I think from my current ranges I would have to choose a triangular pendant that I have named Facet. I make my jewellery using photographs of my larger artworks and selecting a section of these for the base design. I then add metallic foils and tiny glass beads to decorate the design. In this particular piece the base image was taken from a block printed design I had made. I love the colours and shapes in the design, they just sing.
Although applying the tiny beads to designs is fiddly it’s something I am pretty adept at now so though most people would imagine this is a challenge it isn’t really. When pouring resin it is really important to have the right conditions otherwise there can be microbubbles that mist the design. Also the tiniest bit of dust ruins the glossy finish so that’s a big challenge.
It took me a while when I was starting out to realise that it is okay for people not to love your work. Having invested so much time, emotion and energy into a piece it can be hard if a prospective customer snubs your work or barely casts a glance in its direction. After several years of fairs you become far more accepting that some people like your work, in fact some adore it and can’t get enough and inevitably some can take it or leave it. I am exactly the same going round a fair or gallery. Just don’t take it to heart, it doesn’t mean your work is no good.
Lots! Mostly at a decorative design level, not really in my jewellery designs. I love Hundertwasser, Angie Lewin and though maybe not considered an artist but a scientific illustrator, Ernst Haeckel. His drawings are absolutely awesome in their detail. I also love Mark Hearld’s collage work.
From left to right: Hundertwasser, Angie Lewin, and Ernst Haeckel
Colourful, detailed and patterned.
I may pursue my birds in boxes a bit further. During lockdown I created a few little birds from clay and painted them and mounted them in decorative boxes. I think I may work on these a little more. It was nice to work in a more 3D way for a bit.
You can see Naomi's full collection of fantastic Nimanoma jewellery here...