Sophia Readling
[2010, MFA Jewelry and Metalsmithing]
Based in Binghamton, NY
Sophia Readling is the sole designer, creator and maker of StudioSophiaSophia, a color enthusiastic jewelry brand that caters to the lovers of bold adornment. She hand fabricates and casts metal into simple shapes that are thoughtfully placed and dangled off each other, then filled with resin in an electric, eye-catching palette. Her work is inspired by freshly cut citrus fruit, textiles, contemporary fashion design, rainbow makers, Cirque Du Soleil, summer memories, mismatched socks, 60s modernist jewelry, Zumba, and most importantly, color! StudioSophiaSophia is known for her unapologetic use of loud color and daring shapes. She views her work as wearable small paintings meant for starting conversations and making statements, not for wallflowers.
What are some of the most important practices for your creative process?
The creative process for me is usually just getting right down and dirty at the bench! I really don’t do too much sketching or planning beforehand, I start with a vision of a finished piece in my head I want to make and then just start making. From there, the design tends to change a bit depending on whether it is working mechanically or looks as good on the body as I thought it would. Also, music and coffee is a must. There is never a time when I’m working in silence in the studio- Coffee might have become a weird OCD thing but I just like to always have a cup to sip on throughout the day!
How does your current creative practice tie into your time spent at RISD?
My current creative practice is based on being 100% true to me and what I’m passionate for/inspired by, not being influenced by what’s trending or what other people are doing at the moment. At RISD I learned to be my authentic self and to follow my individual and original vision for my work- that has carried through to this day.
Tell us about some of your main sources of inspiration.
COLOR! But also a bit of everything- I’m really into contemporary fashion designers and what they are up to. Mobiles have been a big inspiration lately- I love making things that are able to balance and move together, so I’ve been looking at a lot of them on Pinterest- (For some reason they are all for babies!) I’m inspired by an overall style/aesthetic of people I think are cool (Rihanna, etc.). From a design standpoint I’ve been researching about Memphis Design and its founder Ettore Sottsass, a lot of my shapes and colors feel similar to what they were doing! Also kites- I love that they are so light and large and colorful- those are three things I focus on when making earrings.
Is there a work/body of work that you are particularly excited about sharing with us at RISD Craft this year?
Just so many earrings. I can’t make enough of them!
Any recent press, exhibitions, achievements or awards you’d like to share with us?
I just recently lent a ton of jewelry to a stylist shooting a new Gap campaign so I guess that’s kind of cool!