About 25 years ago I was mainly a jeweler, doing all the typical jewelry for a retail store. But on the side I was carving stone in my brother’s studio, doing smooth animal forms with facet lines for the muscle definition. Eventually, I started doing them in bronze and many years later at the urging of my wife I applied that style to a jewelry line and launched the “Of beasts and beauty” store.
Now I barely have time for anything else! With each piece I try to create something that is beautiful from every angle and has movement, every arc leading into another. I have included a few photos of wax carvings before they are cast and a partially carved bracelet. Most of my jewelry and small sculptures are carved from this hard wax. Larger sculptures are made with hard oil clay.
I start a project by looking at photos then I do a profile drawing. I apply the drawing to the wax and transfer a basic line drawing to it, then I start carving, occasionally looking at photos for details. Mostly I just go by feel (which drives my realist artist friends crazy). At some point I realize I have managed to make something that has special movement or expression and I know I’m almost done. I still do a lot of contemporary gold/diamond/colored stone jewelry but the animal jewelry/sculpture is where my heart is.
More info: Etsy
Timber wolf with diamond eyes
Forest cat ring
Hedgehog ring
Baby fox ring
Sterling leaping puma ring
Fox bracelet
Curious hedgehog/fox
Pangolin
Silver magpie ring
Fox ring
Elephant pendant
Dragonfly
Lion ring
Magpie pin/pendant
Fox head pendant (rose gold)
Dragon band
Wolf wax carving
You can see more works on Etsy
97Kviews
Share on FacebookYou have designed rings I just love. The Hedgehog is my favorite but I'd like them all. Please tell us more and where we can purchase these beautiful, fun rings.
hi . thanks !! it took me a minute to find the link too. etsy.com/shop/michaeltatom here is a coupon for 15 % off etsypanda2016
Load More Replies...hi . i would love to make you one! there is a button on boredbanda to connect you with etsy but a lot of people miss it . go to: michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...Hedgehog ring is my favorite... I love your work! Do you sell them on line?
hi Anna . yes i do. there is a button on boredbanda to connect you with etsy but a lot of people miss it . go to: michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...hi Glynis . thanks ! were you able to see the store on etsy? its michael tatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...:hi Julie . thanks! . here is a coupon for 15 % off: etsypanda2016
Load More Replies...These animal-themed handmade pieces are absolutely stunning! Michael Tatom’s creativity brings each creature to life in a truly unique and artistic way. Love how these designs blend beauty and nature so seamlessly! https://www.hancocks-london.com/product-category/engagement/engagement-rings/
Wow Michael, we love your work we see here at RMW and Retro-Rockets, and we enjoy working with you too!
hi i did some drawings for a new dolphin ring but haven't got around to making it . contact me at michaeltatom.etsy.com and i will send you the drawings if you want ....michael
Load More Replies...hi clarissa . you can't buy them in Hong Kong ... but i can ship to you there . there is a button on boredbanda to connect you with etsy but a lot of people miss it . go to: michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...Beautiful work with pure clean lines, so easy on the eye. I love the silver magpie ring. I'm very envious in the nicest way, that your creations aren't made by me. Simply wow ;-)
hi Preston thanks thats a nice compliment .. what do you do ?
Load More Replies...thanks ! did you get to see the etsy store? michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...thank you !! did you see the etsy store ? there is a button on boredbanda to connect you with etsy but a lot of people miss it . go to: michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...I love the flow in your pieces! They have a natural and organic look to them. I also love making foxes and cats in my jewelry. Simple and beautiful!
I really like this :-) but the link to the website doesn't work :-(
wow this is an amazing work! Do you ship to Serbia and how much would shipping cost? These are really beautiful and with a lot of details
hi . thanks ! i ship all over the world. serbia would be a new one for me. i checked my stampsdotcom account and did not see serbia on the list . but you could check with etsy and see.
Load More Replies...hi shalini you can find them at michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...very funny ! you should see what they look like after a day of polishing jewelry!
Load More Replies...here is a coupon for 15 % off at michaeltatom.etsy.com etsypanda2016
Load More Replies...you can see more sculpture and gold jewelry at: michaeltatom.com
Elegant, gorgeous....My favorites are the baby fox ring and the leaping coyote charm, but there isn't one of these that I don't like! <3
Yeah, that way you can call most of drawings and artists showing their work on Bored Panda "just an advertisement" and if you haven't noticed we have tons of artists "just advertising" their drawings, funny animal photos etc.
Load More Replies...IvebeenreadingcommonsensebyThomasPainsomemensay thatImintenseoroninsaneYou wantarevolutionIwantarevelationSolistentomydeclaration
Weholdthesetruthstoeselfevidentthatallmenarecreatedequalandwhenimeetthomasjeffersonillcompelhimtoincludewomeninthesequel WORK!
Load More Replies...You have designed rings I just love. The Hedgehog is my favorite but I'd like them all. Please tell us more and where we can purchase these beautiful, fun rings.
hi . thanks !! it took me a minute to find the link too. etsy.com/shop/michaeltatom here is a coupon for 15 % off etsypanda2016
Load More Replies...hi . i would love to make you one! there is a button on boredbanda to connect you with etsy but a lot of people miss it . go to: michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...Hedgehog ring is my favorite... I love your work! Do you sell them on line?
hi Anna . yes i do. there is a button on boredbanda to connect you with etsy but a lot of people miss it . go to: michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...hi Glynis . thanks ! were you able to see the store on etsy? its michael tatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...:hi Julie . thanks! . here is a coupon for 15 % off: etsypanda2016
Load More Replies...These animal-themed handmade pieces are absolutely stunning! Michael Tatom’s creativity brings each creature to life in a truly unique and artistic way. Love how these designs blend beauty and nature so seamlessly! https://www.hancocks-london.com/product-category/engagement/engagement-rings/
Wow Michael, we love your work we see here at RMW and Retro-Rockets, and we enjoy working with you too!
hi i did some drawings for a new dolphin ring but haven't got around to making it . contact me at michaeltatom.etsy.com and i will send you the drawings if you want ....michael
Load More Replies...hi clarissa . you can't buy them in Hong Kong ... but i can ship to you there . there is a button on boredbanda to connect you with etsy but a lot of people miss it . go to: michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...Beautiful work with pure clean lines, so easy on the eye. I love the silver magpie ring. I'm very envious in the nicest way, that your creations aren't made by me. Simply wow ;-)
hi Preston thanks thats a nice compliment .. what do you do ?
Load More Replies...thanks ! did you get to see the etsy store? michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...thank you !! did you see the etsy store ? there is a button on boredbanda to connect you with etsy but a lot of people miss it . go to: michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...I love the flow in your pieces! They have a natural and organic look to them. I also love making foxes and cats in my jewelry. Simple and beautiful!
I really like this :-) but the link to the website doesn't work :-(
wow this is an amazing work! Do you ship to Serbia and how much would shipping cost? These are really beautiful and with a lot of details
hi . thanks ! i ship all over the world. serbia would be a new one for me. i checked my stampsdotcom account and did not see serbia on the list . but you could check with etsy and see.
Load More Replies...hi shalini you can find them at michaeltatom.etsy.com
Load More Replies...very funny ! you should see what they look like after a day of polishing jewelry!
Load More Replies...here is a coupon for 15 % off at michaeltatom.etsy.com etsypanda2016
Load More Replies...you can see more sculpture and gold jewelry at: michaeltatom.com
Elegant, gorgeous....My favorites are the baby fox ring and the leaping coyote charm, but there isn't one of these that I don't like! <3
Yeah, that way you can call most of drawings and artists showing their work on Bored Panda "just an advertisement" and if you haven't noticed we have tons of artists "just advertising" their drawings, funny animal photos etc.
Load More Replies...IvebeenreadingcommonsensebyThomasPainsomemensay thatImintenseoroninsaneYou wantarevolutionIwantarevelationSolistentomydeclaration
Weholdthesetruthstoeselfevidentthatallmenarecreatedequalandwhenimeetthomasjeffersonillcompelhimtoincludewomeninthesequel WORK!
Load More Replies...
539
56