Diving into the creative world of Sonia Imbeault: Meeting with an Inspired Jeweler

For the first episode of my brand new podcast Histoires de bijoux, I have the privilege of welcoming Sonia Imbeault, an exceptional jeweler who crossed my path 11 years ago. In this fascinating interview, Sonia shares her journey, her passion for nature, and the magic behind the creation of her unique jewelry.

Back to the roots

Sonia Imbeault, originally from the Matapédia Valley, between Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent, chose to return to her roots to launch her jewelry business. Her creations, mainly in silver, are imbued with the very essence of the nature that surrounds her. Sonia creates jewelry inspired by flora and fauna, and her love for nature is reflected in each piece she makes.

The art of tailor-made

In addition to her original designs, Sonia offers custom creations for her clients. Before starting to manufacture, she takes the time to understand each client's preferences and tastes. Detailed sketches are provided, and this is where her magic happens. Sonia explains her creative process, where she asks crucial questions about preferred shapes, desired stones, and the meaning behind the jewelry. It is then left to nature and her own artistic instincts to guide the process.

Nature as a muse

For Sonia, nature is an endless source of inspiration. Every walk on the beach, every walk in the forest, or even just seeing a dried fern can spark a creative idea. She uses techniques such as rolling mill printing to capture the beauty of natural details in metal. Silver sheets are pressed in a rolling mill with various elements, creating organic patterns that resemble small fossils.

Evolutionary techniques

Over the years, Sonia has perfected her craft and shares her favorite crafting techniques. Using alginate, a substance used to create dental molds, she has managed to capture the delicate details of tiny sea urchins in her creations. Her studio is a creative laboratory where she is constantly exploring new ideas and techniques.

Curiosity without limits

Sonia’s curiosity about the world around her is palpable. She finds beauty in everything that is colorful and textured, transforming each discovery into a possible work of art. Since her summers spent exploring the beaches of Baie-des-Chaleur, Sonia has developed a deep admiration for natural perfection.

The challenges of creation

Sonia also shares the challenges she has faced over the years, including trial and error when experimenting with new techniques. She stresses the importance of remaining open to inspiration, often drawn from walks in the great outdoors.  

Creative Block and Time Management

I explore with Sonia the concept of creative block and how she deals with it. Sonia reveals that she will sometimes step outside her studio to get some fresh air, clean her workspace or head to a café with her drawing supplies, to make room for new ideas. She shares her approach to automatic drawing, explaining how she explores different forms until an interesting idea emerges.

Personal Connection Through Jewelry

The podcast takes an emotional turn when Sonia talks about the personal connection she makes with her clients. She shares an experience where a client lost both of her parents, and she created a cremation pendant with their ashes. This anecdote highlights the significant role that jewelry plays in people's lives.

Challenges of entrepreneurship and work-life balance

Sonia discusses the challenges of balancing her life as an entrepreneur with her family life, especially as a mother. She highlights the importance of juggling multiple responsibilities, including household chores and parenting duties, while trying to pursue her passion for jewelry design.

A look at the highlights

I ask Sonia about her most memorable memory as a jeweler. Sonia shares the story of a particular commission that was a challenge due to the high number of pieces to be created. Despite the difficulties, Sonia expresses her pride in having taken on this challenge and having delivered unique creations.

Conclusion

Through this interview, we discover the fascinating world of Sonia Imbeault, a passionate artist who draws her inspiration from nature and creates unique jewelry imbued with authenticity. Her story reminds us of the infinite beauty that resides in the natural world and how she transforms these treasures into artistic creations that transcend time.