DONNA ARMSTRONG
Donna Armstrong’s distinctive designs reflect the dedication and detailed workmanship that has become greatly sought after by sophisticated jewelry buyers and collectors. With training at the Gemological Institute of America, the Revere Academy and many years of experience, Donna creates unique jewelry based on traditional and historical manufacturing processes.
Many of the techniques used by Donna are a revival of ancient metal working processes; reticulation, fusing, and chain maille which have been used throughout history. Those same techniques with a contemporary twist have established her trademark wearable pieces of art, a special piece of jewelry that is carefully crafted by her hands one piece at a time. Each piece incorporates exquisite gemstones and precious metals to create fashion forward designs that are classic, yet simple and unique.
More about Donna Armstrong: With a background as a commercial real estate broker and bookkeeper, it seems a transition to becoming a jewelry designer and gold smith would be unlikely. But life seems to have a way of offering up opportunities that one would never expect. That opportunity presented itself when an exchange student from Brazil was offered a yearlong stay in Donna’s home to share cultural exchanges with her daughters. Erica, the visiting student gifted the family members with gemstones upon her arrival. Admiration of the beauty and intrigue of these stones became Donna’s passion. When Erica graduated from high school in her home country the opportunity to visit her and her family included a tour of the multitude of mines where beautiful stones are found and processed into sparkling cut stones. It was at that time the intrigue of gemstones presented a new focus of interest in Donna’s mind.
Donna attended the internationally acclaimed Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica, California where she studied Diamonds and colored stones, obtaining a certification as a Graduate Gemologist. After working with diamonds and gemstones through this educational pursuit, she decided to expand her knowledge to include jewelry manufacturing. With a little research it was decided that the premier Revere Academy in San Francisco, California would provide the best education needed to start a manufacturing career.
Creating jewelry with amazing gemstones was very exciting to her, but it also became obvious that a market to sell was a necessity. The opportunity to become a part of the art community in Scottsdale, Arizona with entry into two unique art shows, Celebration of Fine Art and later into Arizona Fine Art Expo, the shows, held each winter for ten weeks, became the outlet Donna needed. The shows are made up of one hundred artists from around the world working and selling their art and sharing their creative processes with the public and each other. After ten years of participating in those shows developing a deep following of clients, Donna now sells her jewelry through galleries and jewelry stores.
Donna has been published in McCall Magazine, Idaho Arts Quarterly, American Art Collector, Images Arizona, Western Art & Architecture, American Style and Arizona Foothills Magazine among others.
Gallery Fifty-Five 
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