Ask the Artist: Miranda Britton

Name: Miranda Britton
Medium: Jewellery (mostly)

How long have you worked in this medium? 10 years.

Were you formally trained or self-taught? I received a BFA in visual art from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and then returned to school five years later to study jewellery making at the Haliburton School for the Arts. 

What do you love about your medium? As a maker of wearable art, I am always designing with the human body in mind. I really love the intimacy that develops between the wearer and the piece.

What is your least favourite aspect of your medium?  The inherent value of my raw materials. Not only are precious metals and gemstones expensive for me to purchase, but they also come loaded with all sorts of references to status and privilege and unethical labour practices. At some point I would love to design a collection created from some type of waste materials, it just hasn't come to me yet...

What do you listen to when you’re working in the studio?  Everything. CBC 1 and 2 (depending on the time of day), Bahamas or Plants and Animals when I need to chill, LCD Soundsystem when I've got a long production day and Death from Above when I've got a tight deadline.
 
Favourite things to do when you’re not working in the studio?
Hang out at home with my kids; eat delicious food, drink delicious drinks and laugh with family and friends; go to concerts with my husband; garden and spend time outside by myself.

Favourite artist / craftsperson of all time and why?  Too many to name, but right now, I'm really loving the work of jeweller and artist Amy Tavern. I really connect with her approach to art making, both her process and her final product.

How long have you lived in Muskoka? 38 years minus my university years (which I spent in Vancouver).

Favourite restaurants in Muskoka? So many to choose from, but definitely The Griffin Gastropub for a tasty pub meal and the best selection of tasty beers, Crossroads for its lovely patio and meals made from local ingredients, the verandah at Windermere House for the gorgeous view out over Lake Rosseau, and the Deli Lama for healthy deliciousness. 

Favourite road to drive in Muskoka? Highway 141 through the Raymond Valley.

Favourite place to hike, bike or walk in Muskoka?  My own property in Windermere.

If you weren’t an artist/craftsperson, what would you be instead? An architect? A gallery/boutique owner? The founder of an arts school? A farmer? I've daydreamed about soooo many different careers!

Visit Miranda's Artist Page​ to learn more about her work.

('Ask the Artist' is an ongoing Q&A series that provides a little bit of insight into the lives of the members of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour)