Shelly Richards has been designing and handcrafting jewelry out of her Washington DC studio since 2007.
Creativity, self-expression and exposure to art in its many forms was a way of life for the daughter of painter/printmaker John C. Sirica and ceramic artist Linda T. Sirica. After graduating from the renowned Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration in 1987, Shelly continued to evolve her passion for art and ingenuity through every facet of her life.
Shelly’s family likes to say that her love of pearls and jewelry started as a little girl when she boldly snuck into her father’s studio unnoticed and painted a pearl necklace onto the unadorned neck of a commissioned portrait of a woman he was finishing. When asked why, 5-year old Shelly replied simply, “the lady just needed a necklace!” Luckily for all involved, Shelly’s parents thought it was quite funny and very creative.
After working as a graphic designer, a freelance illustrator and as a portrait photographer, Shelly finally found her perfect fit designing jewelry thanks to her persistently curious daughter Alex, who wanted to learn how to make jewelry one rainy August week on Cape Cod. From there, Shelly’s first jewelry line, Adornment by Shelly Richards began. And the rest, they say, is history!
Shelly hopes that her love of creating and combining the old and the new along with her desire to make every woman feel beautiful shines through each of her pieces.
