gems, jade, jade carving, Guatemala

In this book, Helen Serras-Herman, an award-winning gem and jewelry artist and National Lapidary Hall of Fame Inductee, shares her passion for carved gems, the interconnection between fine art and the spell-bounding natural mineral world, and her personal journey, along with the challenges and joys of a gem artist's life. Helen reflects on her sources of inspiration and influences from historical places, mines, gem materials, landscapes, flora, and ancient Greek mythological figures, sources that collectors may find expressive and fellow artists stimulating. Helen's book offers a holistic understanding of the complex Fine Art of Gem Sculpture, or Gem Art, which combines knowledge and skills in Lapidary, Sculpture, Drawing, Gemology, and Jewelry. With a Master's degree in sculpture and a graduate degree in gemology, Helen shares her 39-year accumulated knowledge of necessary tools and equipment for gem carving, and the lapidary steps that take a rock from rough to a finished piece of sculpture or jewelry. She offers tips on pricing gem artwork, commission works, her favorite gemstones, selecting gem rough materials, and on navigating the Quartzsite and Tucson gem mega-shows. Helen brings her expertise and unique writing style from her many years of being a frequent contributor to many trade magazines. Readers will be captivated by Helen's autobiographical story that is so closely intertwined with her art, inspired by her descriptions, educated about her methods, mesmerized by her images, and compelled to create, embrace, collect, wear, study, and fall in love with gem artwork