An unparalleled view of the Rocky Mountains is what inspires jewelry designer and goldsmith Scott Keating to produce award-winning designs at his workshop and studio. An avid outdoorsman and skier, Keating says he is comfortable working in "nature's backyard" and to move anywhere else would compromise the quality of his life and work. That's why Keating and his wife, sculptor Nancy Lovendahl, operated a custom design shop in Aspen for eight years, attracting loyal clientele from jet-set celebrities such as Jack Nicholson, Jimmy Buffett, Glen Frey, Kate Jackson, Sonny Bono and Jill St. John.

A native of Chicago, Keating studied design and engineering at the University of Illinois under the late master goldsmith Robert Von Neuman. It was there he met his wife. The couple moved to Aspen in 1973 where Scott's early career started by designing and making silver jewelry at his one showcase shop. As the years passed and Scott's talents expanded, soon he was working in only precious stones and gold. By 1978, he established his own design salon.

Those years of making one-of-a-kind custom pieces evolved into a strong foundation of designs. Keating became inspired to put them together to create a signature collection. He reorganized his business to become a wholesale venture to focus on this collection.

In 1985, Keating was chosen to be one of 12 exhibitors at the prestigious Jewelers of America "New Designers Room" in New York City. His premiere was in what has become a collaboration in business and design with Nancy. The 46 year-old designer has a team of jewelers working with him to make designs in platinum, gold and silver which have won him the "Diamonds of Distinction" award from De Beers and a "Designer of the 90's" award from Jeweler's Circular-Keystone Magazine.

Keating's jewelry includes, Diamonds, Karat Gold and Platinum featuring a wide variety of colored gemstones such as tourmaline, citrine, and amethyst. He has designed new cuts for gemstones, such as his trademark Turret bar-cut. His breakthrough line, the Summit Collection, features rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets set with these faceted or carved cabochon turret cut gemstones and tiny, perfect lines of black enamel or diamond channels. All of his gold mesh is handwoven recalling classic watchbands of the Deco era.

Beside Egyptian and Deco influences, Keating says that nature is probably the single most important source for his creations. All of his designs are proportioned using the same size relationships in nature, used in many artists' work from the Renaissance known as Sacred Proportions or Sacred Geometry. DaVinci's artwork is a classic example of Sacred Proportions as his "Vitruvian Man" is a well known example. He says his goal is to live in harmony with nature and this philosophy brings spirituality to his pieces. Both Keating and his wife say their motivation is to produce designs of integrity and inspiration to the wearer. He asserts that "I find inspiration in earth metals and stones, and adding my love of jewelry making translates the work into wearable art."

Keating's numerous awards include: "Best Gold Buys," 1987; Designer of the 90's," JCK Magazine, 1990; "Diamonds of Distinction Award, 1991; Diamonds International finalist, 1989, 1992; and winner of 2 Best Designer Booth Awards at the JA Jewelry show, 1988, 1990.

Goldsmith/Designer. Born: 20 August, 1953 - Chicago, Illinois

EDUCATION:
University of Illinois, Champaign - Urbana, B.F.A. - Industrial Design Independent Study of Art & Jewelry Design;
Europe & Mideast - 1976-77 G.G. Diamonds - Gemological Institute of America;
Santa Monica, CA - 1980 Independent Study of Art & Jewelry Design;
China/Far East - 1984

HISTORY:
1999 MEMBER - International Jewelry Design Guild

1998 INVITATIONAL EXHIBITOR - COUTURE Conference ELECTED OFFICER - Secretary, American Jewelry Design Council EXHIBITION - Kent State University Museum, Bridges to Design - American Jewelry Design Council

1997 INVITATIONAL EXHIBITOR - COUTURE Conference SPEAKER, MJSA - Advertising & Promotion of Designer Jewelry, JA Designer Day Event

1996 EXHIBITION - Memphis Metals Museum - American Jewelry Design Council

1995 WINNER: Blenheim Award for Continued Excellence in Design

1993 JUROR - AGTA Spectrum Awards MEMBER - Contemporary Design Group

1991 WINNER - Diamonds of Distinction Award, DeBeers, USA MEMBER - American Jewelry Design Council, Invitational

1990 WINNER - Best Booth Design, Pacific Jewelry Show (PJS) , San Diego, CA VOTED - Designer of the 90s, Jewelers Circular Keystone Magazine Designer Panel, Jan. Issue

1989 FINALIST - Diamonds International Design Competition, DeBeers, London England

1988 PREMIERE - New Designers Showcase - PJS, Los Angeles, CA WINNER - Best Booth Design, PJS, Los Angeles, CA

1987 WINNER - Best Gold Buys - Womens Jewelry over $200, Accent Magazine Competition

1986 PREMIERE - New Designers Room, Jewelers of America (JA), New York, NY WINNER - Best Booth Design - JA, New York, NY FINALIST - Diamonds International Design Competition, DeBeers, London, England

1985 DBA Scott Keating Design - Established as an international subsidiary (wholesale designer gold & precious gemstone jewelry), Aspen, Colorado

1978 DESIGNER/MANUFACTURER/PRESIDENT - Goldworks by Scott Keating, Inc. (Custom jewelry design and gold work), Aspen, Colorado

1973 JEWELER/MANAGER - Colorado Silver Co., Retail Silver - smithing

SELECTED CLIENTS:
Jill St. John - Aspen and Beverly Hills
Jack Nicholson - Aspen and Beverly Hills
Glen Fry - Aspen and Beverly Hills
Janie & Jimmy Buffett - Aspen and Key West
Sonny Bono - Beverly Hills
Chris & Patricia Hemmeter - Aspen and Honolulu
Kathryn Levitz Lee - Aspen
Laura Donnelley Morton - Aspen and New York City
Dionne Thompson - Austin, Texas
Joan Deutz - Aspen and Mexico City
Gail Pincus & Arthur Jacobs, Esq. - New York City
Lita Warner Heller - Aspen and Beverly Hills
Kate Jackson - Aspen and Beverly Hills

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