Artist Bio
Drawing inspiration from the natural curves and symmetry of nature, Julie Leininger's designs reflect her keen eye for both the beautiful and the practical. Using precious metals and gemstones that she has carefully sourced, she begins a piece by twisting and hammering the metal until it speaks. Her jewelry is not loud or ostentatious, but rather subtle and sublime.
A native of New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Leininger grew up with a love and appreciation for nature. Based on these early influences, she pursued a career as an environmental engineer, graduating from Clarkson University’s master’s program in 1997. In the summer of 2005, she went to a craft store with a friend and unexpectedly came home with a bagful of beads. This was the beginning of her creative journey. At first, she made jewelry and gave it away simply for the joy of it. Encouraged by family and friends, she later began selling her creations and her business steadily grew. In early 2012 she left the corporate world to make jewelry full time.
Leininger’s creativity is inspired by her love for colors, patterns, textures, and shapes found in nature, but undoubtedly, her engineering background influences her jewelry work. Her favorite part of the jewelry making process is planning the design and solving any problems along the way.
“It’s probably dry, but I like the calculating—looking at durability, function, form, how it hangs. Also, troubleshooting design issues and devising solutions are a very rewarding part of the jewelry making process for me. I’m constantly re-evaluating my work as it takes shape,” she says.
Leininger also is fueled by the personal connections she makes. She takes special joy in seeing a customer drawn to a piece of jewelry.
“This is very rewarding for me,” she says. “It is most satisfying when I am able to see my creation adorning its new owner, someone who will likely cherish and care for it as I would.”
Business acumen and an eye for beautiful design are just a few of Leininger’s many strengths as an artist.
Written by Rebecca Hyde
A native of New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Leininger grew up with a love and appreciation for nature. Based on these early influences, she pursued a career as an environmental engineer, graduating from Clarkson University’s master’s program in 1997. In the summer of 2005, she went to a craft store with a friend and unexpectedly came home with a bagful of beads. This was the beginning of her creative journey. At first, she made jewelry and gave it away simply for the joy of it. Encouraged by family and friends, she later began selling her creations and her business steadily grew. In early 2012 she left the corporate world to make jewelry full time.
Leininger’s creativity is inspired by her love for colors, patterns, textures, and shapes found in nature, but undoubtedly, her engineering background influences her jewelry work. Her favorite part of the jewelry making process is planning the design and solving any problems along the way.
“It’s probably dry, but I like the calculating—looking at durability, function, form, how it hangs. Also, troubleshooting design issues and devising solutions are a very rewarding part of the jewelry making process for me. I’m constantly re-evaluating my work as it takes shape,” she says.
Leininger also is fueled by the personal connections she makes. She takes special joy in seeing a customer drawn to a piece of jewelry.
“This is very rewarding for me,” she says. “It is most satisfying when I am able to see my creation adorning its new owner, someone who will likely cherish and care for it as I would.”
Business acumen and an eye for beautiful design are just a few of Leininger’s many strengths as an artist.
Written by Rebecca Hyde
