Lana Marie Stamper
I have always liked creating things, and I love jewelry. Those two loves sent me to first stringing beads to make simple beaded designs. Then I found silver metal clay and fell in love with this fantastic medium. I am drawn to the limitless possibilities that this clay offers and find that working with the clay in all its forms is easier for me than traditional metalsmith techniques. I can texture it with almost anything, including organic items. It can be carved, layered, etched, etc. I am like a kid at Christmas when I pull a fired piece from the kiln and see that it has transformed from clay to silver!
I find inspiration everywhere, and my eye is always searching for ideas to put into a piece of jewelry. My husband tells me I wake up thinking about jewelry making and go to bed thinking about it. I use mainly fine silver metal clay and combine it with sterling silver findings and lab-created gemstones, Swarovski crystals, or semi-precious stones. Sometimes I will add gold to some of my pieces by gold-plating, keum-boo, or accent gold. I am still developing my own style and working on perfecting my craftsmanship. I love learning about new techniques to use with metal clay, and I love to teach my passion for metal clay to others. My pieces are usually one-of-a-kind, and I am honored when a piece becomes part of someone’s jewelry collection.
Lana Stamper was born in Ferriday, Louisiana, and grew up in the Miss-Lou area. She currently lives in Natchez, Mississippi. Lana’s background is actually in healthcare with a nursing degree and a master’s in nursing education. Teaching is her passion, no matter the topic. She completed a Jewelry Design and Repair Course in 2002 and was introduced to metal clay that same year. However, it wasn’t until 2012, after retiring from administration in healthcare, that she pursued her jewelry-making journey with metal clay. Over the next couple of years, Lana became a certified metal clay artist from PMC Connection and Art Clay World. In October 2019, Lana continued that journey by becoming a certified instructor for the Camp PMC Certification Program. She currently teaches locally and throughout the state of Mississippi.
Lana is a member of the Mississippi Craftsmen Guild, Louisiana Crafts Guild, and Tennessee Craft Organization. She is an instructor for, and a member of the Mississippi School of Folk Art. Lana is a member of the Education Steering Committee for the Alliance for Metal Clay Arts Worldwide. Her work can be found in local galleries and the antebellum home, Magnolia Hall, in Natchez, MS.
