Monica Waddell
As the daughter of an artist, Monica Waddell grew up with the smell of oil paints, turpentine, acrylics, and inks permeating her house. As a child she frequented the art studios of colleges and universities where her father taught and was surrounded by easels, canvas, brushes and her father’s enthusiastic art students. Color, texture, line and shape made up her life from its beginning. She would go on to graduate from ASU as an art history major and pick up the tools to design jewelry. As a bench jeweler she enjoys wax carving/model-making, casting, and stone setting. She works mostly on small scale pieces in fine silver, sterling silver, and occasionally copper. Presently she is focused on “wrapped loops” or “rosary chain” techniques which she combines with semi-precious gem stones. She especially enjoys working with turquoise. Monica’s studio workshops (Rhys Auden Jewelry) are based in Prescott and Scottsdale Arizona. Because of this she is naturally influenced by Native American and Mexican cultures in her selections of colors and stones; however, her travels through Europe and Asia have also shaped her instincts in designs. When Monica is not making jewelry she shares her love of art and the process of creating art through teaching children in grades K-12 at a charter school serving children on the Autism Spectrum. Creative expression encourages mental well-being, and Monica feels privileged to use her knowledge of art as an avenue for therapy and a way to reduce stress for those living with ASD.