Donna Damgaard, Jewelry Artist

Biography

Donna Damgaard is a Pennsylvania native and was raised in Schuylkill Country.    In 1982, she moved to the Harrisburg area and spent a decade working in and opening offices in the temporary help service industry.  She has a degree from Penn State in business and became interested in jewelry in 2002.  Donna has taken workshops and courses in PMC, wirework, bead making and metal work.   Notable commissions include cancer bracelets made selectively for Phazes Boutique and a ruby quartz signature collection for the I. O. Silver Foundations benefiting the Vascular Dept. of the Penn State Milton Hershey Hospital.  Her jewelry is in boutiques,  galleries and shops in the greater Harrisburg  area and she is a member of the Pa. Guild of Craftsmen. 

Artist Statement

   I am inspired by other artisans’ work.  Through my travels around the globe, I am constantly searching for interesting artistic elements to purchase and utilize in my hand crafted designs.  Each cultural experience brings new ideas to each of my pieces and contributes to the design.  I enjoy creating pieces in a wide style range.  The jewelry may earthy and organic or sophisticated and elegant.  Being able to use so many different elements really keeps it interesting for me.

Because many of my pieces utilize work from artisans living in third world countries, my work often financially assists people who are in need.  It is a small but rewarding effort and an extension of my philanthropic ideals.  In expressing my spiritual intentions for the jewelry I make, I humbly request that each piece be blessed by our master creator and that these blessings may be passed onto the giver as well as the wearer.

My jewelry is hand crafted in my home studio where my focus is on quality craftsmanship and personalized service.

Description of techniques

The elements and findings I use for beading and stringing of the jewelry I make are of highest quality I can find.   I hand select most of the beads, gems and pearls I use in my pieces.   As a novice metalsmith I hope to continue to hone my craft to a point where I will be able to sell this type of work in the near future.