Jade has its cultural roots in the smoke-dimmed caves and huts that sheltered prehistoric humans. Around the world, Stone Age workers shaped this toughest of gems into weapons, tools, ornaments, and ritual objects. Their carvings invoked the powers of heaven and earth and mystic forces of life and death. Jadeite’s structure scatters light. If properly cut, a white piece with a small green spot will make the gem appear completely green if lit from behind. Not unusually hard for a gem, both jade types are extremely tough. Neolithic knives and axe heads were often made of nephrite. Nephrite rings musically when struck. The imperial court in China had jade wind chimes designed to ring specific notes. For both jadeite and nephrite, green is the most valued color. Semi-transparent clarity and fine texture also increase jade’s value dramatically.

I have been drawn to jade since a trip with Adrienne to New Zealand in 2005, where she bought me my first jade piece - a Hei Matau, made by a Maori in Whataroa on the South Island. He gave me a diamond tipped Dremel bit to take home with me. I even found a few tiny jade bits on a beach at Punakaiki. When I found myself in Big Sur in 2012, I naturally found Jade Cove and the rest is history. My world has opened and drastically changed since embarking as a jade artist. 

sourcing

Some I find. Most I buy. I work mostly with California and British Columbian nephrite jades, and occasionally get my hands on some jadeite. I buy slabs, chunks, and whole stones.

slabbing

Once I get a chunk or a big stone in my hands, I will survey it for a while to find the direction of the grain, natural cut lines, and interesting patterns. I have a big 10" MK diamond saw made for tile and brick that I use to cut slabs. Pictured are two Big Sur nephrites, and one Guatemalan jadeite on the right.

design and rough out

Once a design and intention have been set for the piece, it is time to lay out the design onto the stone taking into account features, coloring, direction of the grain, and any weak spots or healed cracks that may fracture during carving. I have a couple of different tools I use for roughing - drill press with diamond hole saws, diamond ring saw, a 10" diamond bladed saw shapes remarkably quickly, an 8" wheel cabbing machine, and my trusty 3/4 hp Foredom rotary tool with various diamond bits.

carve and polish

Carving and polishing jade is a lot like woodworking - rough out, shape, sand and finish with progressively finer abrasive grits, always using water as a lubricant. At this stage I mostly go back and forth between my Foredom rotary tool with various shapes of diamond bits, and hand sanding with silicon carbide sanding sticks, sandpaper, and diamond polishing paste for the final polish.

Thank you

Much gratitude for taking the time to read about my craft. Let me know if I can make something special for you!