worksheet is a studio in Los Angeles handcrafting iridescent aesthetic wonders featuring color-shifting mica screen prints and bold, one-of-a-kind freshwater pearl, gemstone, and mixed metal jewelry.
Each piece is made to stimulate a sense of wonder and variety in everyday life, using qualities of light and color to hilight contradictions, connect the mundane and metaphysical, and push the boundaries of our personal expression through a surreal, queer, and otherworldly aesthetic.
At the core of worksheet is a study of structural coloration, which produces the iridescent qualities posessed by both mica (mineral) and nacre (pearls). Structural colors are created by the way their nanostructure reflects different wavelengths of light—the color that appears depends on the interference of light waves bouncing off different layers of the structure that either amplify or cancel the appearance of a particular color.
We make our own custom ink by blending mica powders with a clear base.
They work best when printed over a dark background, which would stop extra light from scattering and interfering with the colors. Prints are made on black Stonehenge 90lb cotton printmaking paper, and ran in limited editions of 10-60 in Los Angeles.
The prints made with this ink will change color based on the relationship between the viewer, the print, and the light source.
Learn more about the process, or check out the prints turned out.
A specimen pearl is an amazing pearl that stands on its own in a piece of jewelry. They are prized for their large size, unique shapes, and stunning iridescence.
While ‘baroque’ refers to any pearl that is irregularly shaped, and ‘specimen’ pearl can refer to a pearl of any shape, we try to give more specific descriptions inspired by their form and color, and interscalar connections in nature.
These pearls make one-of-a-kind jewelry for a bold statement that helps push the bounds of your personal expression. Learn more about the science behind iridescence, or see how the pearls play out in our jewelry collection.
We also make regular appearances at pop-ups across LA and the Southern California Area, so come say hi and see for yourself!
Established by Josh Nelson in 2020