Derek Ibarra
Derek was born in Sacramento and lived in Lodi. Since he was a little child he had ways of making money. He would make drawings and sell them to his family members for quarters or dimes. When Derek was in school he made his first necklace out of foot loops and floss. From then on he was hooked on making jewelry.
In 2000, Derek and his family moved to Stockton. He began making bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and key chains. When he went to elementary school, he would sell the jewelry to his teachers after school. Soon, he was selling jewelry to his principal. After taking classes for wire wrapping, he began to excel in the technique. Once Derek had made enough jewelry, he began showing his jewelry at events like the art walk in Stockton, Art Hop in Lodi, and competed in student art shows at the Tidewater Art Center & Gallery.
Derek is currently teaching classes at a bead shop called Envy Beads on Tully Rd. in Modesto. He is now learning the technique called “Filigree” which is Soldering precious metals together to make a jewelry design with an open back.
Click on thumbnails to enlarge.
