“Talente 2012″ at the IHM Munich

Jewelry is for me a way to discover new sensations and get in touch with another part of myself. I am always surprised of its infinite range of action. It is a way to experiment, think, breathe, and create. Once I start, I can not stop, I dream about it. The jewelry allows me to create my own universe, to be free, let me go with the moment, to be spontaneous and let the pieces rest in my hands, enhancing the qualities of the material and allowing it to connect its story to mine.

Colouring pencils were my favourite toy as a child, giving me feelings of pleasure and excitement.
My working process began by deconstructing the pencils in order to reconstruct them in totally different shapes and structures. Resin is used as the primary binding element, thereafter allowing me to give the desired shape. I discovered during this process the unexpected mix of colours and marks made by the saw blade resembling the way of drawing on walls, dirty, smudged and faded, like scribbling outside the lines. I know that I am not the first and only one to use colour pencils as element for design objects, but my research was to transform the pencils into a new material at the same time preserving their function and history. The resulting new forms show clearly the marks of the present working process and reveal the memories of my childhood.
This work represents my desire to preserve the spontaneous way children act.

Andrea Melissa Arias, 1985, Ciudad Guayana, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela. 

Education:
2011 Workshop with Ruudt Peters. Alchimia School of Contemporary Jewellery – Florence | Course with Prof. Daniela Boire, Marzia Rossi and Yoko Shimizu, Alchimia School of Contemporary Jewellery – Florence | Course with prof. Camilo Lozano. Peruvian weaving. Escultorica School – Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela | Course with prof. Alexandra Figueira. Beadmaking. Joanna Palacios Metalsmithing School – Caracas, Venezuela.
2010 Course with prof. Ursi Galleti. Ursi Galleti Metalsmithing School– Caracas, Venezuela.
2007 Course with prof. Maritza Alayon. Metalsmithing – Caracas, Venezuela.
2003-2008 UCAB Guayana, Licentiate's degree in Social Comunication – Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. 

2011 Eme Magazine, Venezuela: “Obras de Arte que te puedes poner”. Estampas Magazine, Venezuela “Chicas en clave business” Néstor Luis Llabanero.
2010 Global Magazine, Venezuela “Melissa Arias: creaciones que enaltecen la feminidad” Jorge Osorio Birott.
2009 Clase Turista Magazine, Venezuela “Melissa Arias: una mariposa con alas de artista” Pedro Sánchez | Rumbavenezuela Magazine, Venezuela Especial Super mujeres “Orfebrería creativa Melissa Arias” Bárbara Delgado. | D’nota Magazine, Venezuela “Diseño juvenial a la vanguardia” Iliana Pérez.
2008 Eme Magazine, Venezuela: “Se está llevando”.
2007 Estampas Guayana Magazine, Venezuela: “Jóvenes con buena estrella” Ada Serrano.
| 286 Magazine, Venezuela “Talento: Melissa Arias”.
2006 CG Magazine, Venezuela: Especial de Moda. Retratados “Melissa Arias: Emulsión creativa” Atamaica Rios. | Market Life Magazine, Venezuela. Season Look “Lo clásico, lo étnico y lo urbano de Melissa Arias” Juan Carlos Rivas.

Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela:

Melissa Arias
Galeria commercial - Hotel Best Western Mara Inn
Plaza Merú - Orinokia Mall