Rafi And Klee Studios Projects

Okaloosa Saves Rain Barrel Art Corporate Commission

This one made the list of our projects page, simply because it was the weirdest and coolest commission I have ever done. I was approached by an organization that holds classes on creating rain barrels. Okaloosa Saves is a local organization with the goal of raising awareness and educating the community on how to make smart choices when it comes to saving for the future.

They held a fundraiser and wanted to auction off an art barrel. I was honored that they had chosen me to create their first (and my first) art rain barrel.

Apparently the event was a huge success and everyone was hoping to win my barrel, which made me feel really good.

To find out more about Okaloosa Saves http://economiclivingexpo.com/

Hire Us For A Corporate Commission

Go To Our Milestones Page

Willow Tree Anniversary Necklace By Klee Commission

This piece was commissioned as a nine year wedding anniversary gift, willow being the theme for ninth anniversaries and the basis of the design. I have created a number of trees, each one special, but never a willow.

It presented a challenge in balancing the feel of a willow tree without covering the whole pendant in willow branches. As you can see in the “not yet completed” photo, once I had all of the branches on, it was in dire need of a haircut.

The whole necklace is full of symbolic meaning for the couple. Nine sapphires dangle above the tree like stars (and sapphire is her birthstone as well) 18 base branches to represent 9 years for each of them, 33 dangling willow branches for her 33rd birthday, and so on. Every part of it has meaning.

In addition, I designed it in a way that it can be worn at three different lengths. It was a mixture of logistical challenges, pushing myself as a designer, pushing my skill set, and combining all the symbology with an aesthetic that I wanted for the piece. It was the most time I’ve spent working on one piece in my career thus far, and it’s also one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve created.

Commission Rafi And Klee For Your Next Creation

Go To Our Milestones Page

Art Carousel Horse Commission

It’s not every day that I get to cross something off of my bucket list. As a kid, I remember being mesmerized by the the carousel horses at Six Flags Great America. This year, I was given a blank horse and asked to make it look beautiful.

“Do what you want with it, I trust you.” He said.

There is just something magical about them. When you are a kid, they can easily spark the imagination… Oh, who am I kidding, as an adult they spark my imagination. As an artist, I think it is such a great opportunity to tell a story using such familiar imagery.

Think about it, if you give a hundred artists the same blank horse, you will get a hundred different horses. Each one telling a unique story. A story that reflects the artists that created it.

I’m not sure if I’ll ever get the opportunity to design another carousel horse, but the fact that there is one out in the world, with my signature on it is so exciting to me.

I just had to share it with you. Stay awesome!

Commission Rafi And Klee For Your Next Creation

Go To Our Milestones Page

Gold Engagement Ring By Klee Commissions

I recently had the absolute honor of creating my first solid gold engagement ring for a very special customer. I collaborated with her soon to be Fiance and her sister to come up with the design concept.

The stone is a gorgeous Herkimer Diamond which had been dug out of the Herkimer mine in New York State just weeks before we were ready to start designing. It came to me like “Here I am, I’m the perfect stone for this ring.” I got goosebumps and chills when I laid eyes on it. I chose solid gold for the ring because to me it represents purity, brightness and classic beauty, which resonated with the vibe of the stone and with the bride to be. Working with solid gold (while a bit intimidating at first) is an intoxicating experience.

A prominent jewelry artist was quoted as saying “Once you work in gold, you are ruined for other metals.” While I can’t say I’m ruined for other metals, I was completely captivated and enthralled with the process, and I definitely want more of it. I wanted the design to be a fusion of minimalist and “Crown Jewels”; one part sweet and one part fierce, so I chose a rustic but smooth as silk prong setting which arcs up over the stone like beautiful curved spires. I was thrilled with the final result. I was even more thrilled when I got to see the proposal happen via skype, and the bride to be’s reaction to her engagement ring. It was a fantastic, challenging, inspiring, and all together amazing commission that I am so happy to have been a part of.

Solid Gold Engagement Ring By Klee Angelie

Commission Rafi And Klee For Your Next Creation

Go To Our Milestones Page

Mural In Downtown Pensacola Corporate Commission

It has been an interesting journey, full of hot, inferno like days, and epic downpours, but I am proud to announce that my mural, in beautiful downtown Pensacola, is finished!

If you are in Pensacola, you can see it at Marty Campbell Gallery, located at 114 Palafox Pl, Pensacola, FL 32502

For more information of the Mural Click Here.

To view pictures of the mural at different stages take a look at pictures below.

#rafiwashere

Go To Mural Commission Page

Go To Our Milestones Page

Blue Topaz Engagement Ring By Klee Angelie Commission

This was one of the most exciting and challenging commission projects I’ve taken on thus far. It’s made it to the projects page because it is my very first formal engagement ring.

Blue Topaz Engagement Ring By Klee Angelie

The couple that commissioned the ring had actually found and dug up the stone (a blue topaz) themselves at a mining site in Tennessee, and had it faceted. The bride to be handed me the stone and said “Something simple but different and unique.”

The stone reminded me of water so I designed a textured band to look like a pebbly creek bed flowing beneath the vibrant blue of the topaz. The creation of the ring was several days of diligent focus, steady hands, and unwavering patience and attention to details.

As I carefully hammered, shaped, filed, welded, filed some more, set prongs, held my breath, set a stone, and finally polished… It came together and became everything I envisioned and then some. It required me to push my limits and skill set, and for that I am always grateful.

The couple absolutely loved the ring, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the entire experience.

View more photos below of the creative process and more:

Commission Rafi And Klee For Your Next Creation

Go To Our Milestones Page

Glow Painting At Vinyl Music Hall Live Painting

Enjoy Photos from the show:

Glow In The Dark Live Painting At Vinyl 2016

View Our Upcoming Events

Go To Our Milestones Page

Compassion Project Interactive Art Install

We were invited to create an interactive art installation for an event called the compassion project. I did something a little different this time.

On March 5th, Klee and I attended an event called “Curated Compassion” in which several artist showcased art installations that would interact with the viewer. We set up a piece that would allow for several people to be involved in the creation of a beautiful work. We had over 40 people put their hands in the clay (or magnets) and helped create this amazing work of art. Thank you to everyone involved in making this project beautiful. This video below, is the art… Enjoy.

Sunset Commission By Rafi Perez Pensacola FL

I was approached early in the year for a special commission. They wanted an abstract that would capture the sunset that they can see from their beautiful home on the ocean.

Enjoy the photos below of this project: