Jewellery is a form of art, and jewellers are artists. The ability to not only design and assemble exquisite pieces but also to illustrate them through watercolour paintings is a rare and remarkable talent. Keelie Skou, our award-winning and highly skilled jeweller and designer at Hogans Family Jewellers, exemplifies this extraordinary blend of skills. Keelie’s journey as a jeweller is marked by a deep passion for her craft; her jewellery pieces, in themselves, are nothing short of perfection. She is known for her intricate and equally beautiful pieces. Each design is a testament to her dedication and talent, showcasing her artistic flair.

What truly sets Keelie apart is her incredible ability with watercolours. This talent allows her to enhance the bespoke jewellery pieces she designs and assembles with hand-painted illustrations. These illustrations are not merely artistic interpretations but are precise, detailed representations of the actual jewellery piece. Keelie’s watercolour paintings capture every nuance, from the intricate details to the sparkle of the gemstones, bringing the jewellery to life on paper. At Hogans Family Jewellers, we take immense pride in her talents. Her work embodies the perfect harmony between jewellery design and fine art, ensuring that each creation is a masterpiece. Whether you are seeking a custom-designed piece or a one-of-a-kind illustration, Keelie’s artistry promises to deliver something truly special.

Now, let’s ask Keelie more about these processes and how she developed such an amazing range of talents.

Q: Keelie, can you tell us about your journey to becoming a jeweller and designer? What inspired you to pursue this career?
A: I have always loved art, watching my mother sketch and paint while growing up always inspired me. I have never gone without a brush or a pencil in my hand. These days, you would be hard-pressed to find an item of clothing in my closet that doesn't have a smear of paint on it.  

So, when I began my career in jewellery as a sales assistant and found that I could transition into a designer, it was really such an easy decision to make. This way, I could incorporate my love of jewellery and my love of art into something totally unique.  

At Hogans, I was given the opportunity to take on a manufacturing apprenticeship to help develop my designs, not only being aesthetically pleasing but also into physical pieces that would stand the test of time.  

After training with the team at Hogans and developing my jewellery sketching skills under the guidance of Lachlan Hogan, I was able to expand my repertoire and develop my own rendered jewellery paintings.  

Q: Your jewellery pieces are known for their intricate designs and artistic flair. What inspires your designs, and how do you translate your vision into a physical piece?
A: I am a big romantic at heart, so I am really drawn to vintage-inspired jewellery designs, Claude Monet Paintings, and Gothic Revival architecture. I love jewellery that has a story behind it, with recurring motifs and little hidden details that only the wearer would know. 
 
Ombres of pastel hues and star-freckled night skies are some of the elements that inspire me. I try to incorporate a few of these into my designs in the way of star set diamonds, multi-hued sapphires and tourmalines and the vintage millgrain setting technique.  

Q: You have an incredible talent for watercolour painting. How did you develop this skill, and what drew you to use watercolours to complement your jewellery work?
A: I absolutely love the painted renderings that design houses create for their show-stopping pieces, and I really wanted to introduce this to Hogans. The pieces that we create here are artworks themselves, and I wanted to highlight all the amazing work that we do. From the initial design to the finished product.

When completing your manufacturing apprenticeship, you are given the basics of painting with gouache and over time, with a lot of practice, I have been able to refine this skill and transform these renderings and make them my own.   

My style is slightly different from those that are taught at TAFE, but I like the ‘larger than life’ style as it highlights all the smaller details.  The medium I use is not just limited to watercolours, but I love the mixture of gouache, pens and pencils. I love the freedom that a mixed medium gives me.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face when translating the details and sparkle of a real-life ring into a watercolour painting? How do you overcome these challenges?
A: Perspective! That is the biggest challenge. A simple shift in the orientation of a ring can change how all your diamonds, gemstones and gold reflect light and react with the world around it. Diamonds are especially hard because they refract so much light and throw so many different colours that capturing the illustrious beauty of a diamond can be quite difficult. The way I overcome these difficulties is by taking lots of reference images and by layering my mediums, starting with gouache and building to pencils to create depth within the stones. 

Q: Among the many pieces you’ve painted, do you have a particular favourite? Can you share the story and inspiration behind it?
A: I have done quite a few paintings for some special customers now. I love all of them; it is always hard to choose, like picking a favourite child. I love seeing my progression as an artist, and looking back is quite amazing to see how far I have come. From anniversary paintings to donated pieces, I hold them all close to my heart. I do have a favourite, however, the story behind this one I keep close to my chest. A yellow and white gold, trilogy, emerald engagement ring, gifted from a young man to his fiancée. Perhaps I’ll leave it at that...  

I would like the time to thank anyone who has supported my art, whether it be by liking an Instagram post or by commissioning a sketch. It really does mean so much to me. It allows me to pursue my passion and continue doing what I love.  

If you’re looking for a truly unique and personal piece to cherish for years to come, book your bespoke illustration commission today.