Great inventions come about in many ways, but necessity has played a part in most of them. How can you convey a love of life and wish to conserve cherished natural environments? This bright, young, Sonoma County artist thinks she has one answer. Ava Austin can often be found at the ocean, swiming, walking on the sand, looking in tide pools, or just watching waves. "I grew up near the water, it's always fascinated me and been part of my daily life," she says. "I want to share my passion for this world, and especially get people thinking about these wonderful areas." Ava is a professional painter, her canvases reflect her emotional connection to the sea. "I was really happy with the way my paintings came across, but I wanted to reach more people." So she decided to expand into wearable art by creating a jewelry line based on forged copper enameled with her own unique process. "I started by recycling my old canvas paint, eventually devising a polymer formula of my own, suitable for applying to etched metal. It's a combination of painting and sculpture, something you can wear all the time, a reminder when your indoors of the beauty of the natural world. The cuffs are comfortable because each piece can be adjusted to fit anyone." Ava has a studio by the Pacific Coast in Sonoma County, CA where she meticulously fashions each cuff by hand. Visit AvaAustin.com for more information and to see her amazing designs.