Karen Adele Hykkonen English Cereghino
Artist Statement
I’ve always felt like an artist because my Finnish-American parents expected me to have a happy childhood. “Let them be kids, you’re old for a long time,” my dad would say with good sense. I ran freely in my southwest Los Angeles neighborhood when there were still open fields of wildflowers. I drew, I painted, I laughed. Creating art felt like playing.
I was an art and design student during my school years. I tried living an artist’s life while raising a son but the need for security led me to a “real” job. I put aside art dreams and found the University of California where I worked for nearly 30 years in administrative positions at UC Davis, UCLA and lastly, UCSF Fresno. Soon after moving to the San Joaquin Valley I married Dan Cereghino, 2nd generation Maderan, and found three additional children.
More than 10 years ago I reconnected with my creative self and the joy making of jewelry. I’ve admired rocks and sea glass since childhood and began taking formal and informal classes to feature these treasures. I use primarily cold wire techniques including stringing, wire wrapping and metalwork and attend the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show as often as possible to handpick my gemstones. Jewelry often includes shells, pearls, recycled glass, Hill Tribe Silver (99% pure) along with my own handcrafted elements.
I enjoy designing asymmetrical pieces balanced by color, form and texture…unexpected, imperfect and beautiful like life.
My business is called SUKU, which means “kin,” for my grandparents who immigrated from Finland and to represent our connection to one another and our planet.
Artist Statement
I’ve always felt like an artist because my Finnish-American parents expected me to have a happy childhood. “Let them be kids, you’re old for a long time,” my dad would say with good sense. I ran freely in my southwest Los Angeles neighborhood when there were still open fields of wildflowers. I drew, I painted, I laughed. Creating art felt like playing.
I was an art and design student during my school years. I tried living an artist’s life while raising a son but the need for security led me to a “real” job. I put aside art dreams and found the University of California where I worked for nearly 30 years in administrative positions at UC Davis, UCLA and lastly, UCSF Fresno. Soon after moving to the San Joaquin Valley I married Dan Cereghino, 2nd generation Maderan, and found three additional children.
More than 10 years ago I reconnected with my creative self and the joy making of jewelry. I’ve admired rocks and sea glass since childhood and began taking formal and informal classes to feature these treasures. I use primarily cold wire techniques including stringing, wire wrapping and metalwork and attend the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show as often as possible to handpick my gemstones. Jewelry often includes shells, pearls, recycled glass, Hill Tribe Silver (99% pure) along with my own handcrafted elements.
I enjoy designing asymmetrical pieces balanced by color, form and texture…unexpected, imperfect and beautiful like life.
My business is called SUKU, which means “kin,” for my grandparents who immigrated from Finland and to represent our connection to one another and our planet.
