Rebecca Di Filippo, known on social media as Rebecca D. Enamel, is an Italian artist and craftswoman specialized in the creation of jewelry and objects in Micromosaic and Enamel on metal. She works in a studio near Milan, where she creates unique jewelry and objects, combining technical research with aesthetic sensitivity. Alongside her artistic production, she is consistently engaged in education through workshops, tutorials, and ebooks, with the aim of sharing and preserving ancient techniques. The group workshops hosted exclusively by Hobbyland welcome participants from countries all over the world.
Hello Rebecca, thank you for being here with us. It is a pleasure to host you and explore your artistic journey together. With this interview we would like to share your experience, your vision and what guides your daily work in the studio.
Thank you for the invitation, I’m happy to take part in this new section of the Hobbyland blog.
Do you remember the first object you created and thought: “ok, this works”? How old were you and how long had you been preparing to achieve that result?
No, I haven’t reached that point yet and, deep down, I hope I never do. I’m not satisfied with the creations I have made so far, this pushes me to keep creating, improving and never stopping.
When did you realize that this art was not just a passion, but that it could become a real profession?
Very early, I was 18 or 19 years old. At that time it was almost impossible to find an enamelist, so as soon as word spread about my work, jewelers and companies began contacting me. The success of today, if we want to call it that, came gradually also thanks to micromosaic.
What are the names of 3 artists you follow and who still inspire you today?
I’m overthinking it. I’m very influenced by Botticelli and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. There would be many others, but perhaps Phoebe Anna Traquair stands out for the shapes of her jewelry and her use of silver leaf.
In this discipline, do you ever stop learning?
Absolutely not! Every piece and every mistake are new lessons. You never get bored.
What is the most underestimated aspect of your work, the one that people from the outside don’t imagine?
There is a balance between technique and creativity. The search for excessive technical perfection can become paralyzing. Sometimes accepting a technical imperfection is the best way to achieve the right aesthetic for a piece.
Is there a gesture or phase of the creative process that you particularly love? Why?
When I talk about micromosaic I love pulling the enamel threads, it is the thing I enjoy the most. As for enamel on metal, experimenting with new colors is a research process that opens new possibilities.
The most remarkable mistake you have made and what did it teach you?
I could make a very long list of the mistakes I have made over the years or mention a random one, but it would not change much, because they all taught me the same thing: never give up!
The most absurd or funniest moment that happened in the studio?
I think the funniest moments are all connected to workshops. When people from different parts of the world meet and speak different languages, funny situations are always around the corner. One of my favorite memories from a course is related to a gentleman who attended a group workshop at Hobbyland. I try to keep the atmosphere light, I make jokes, or at least I try, but he was very serious, impassive, extremely focused. Until we discovered that he spoke Spanish like two other participants. From one moment to the next he became a completely different person. He joked and made everyone laugh. It’s wonderful to see connections and sometimes friendships develop between people who have never met before and who live thousands of kilometers apart.
Where does your inspiration come from today: more from technique or from what you experience outside of work?
In the morning I wake up, I have an idea and I have to make it real. My creative process is very simple, I just respond to an inner need.
Is there a material or a tool you care about the most and that you would never want to part with?
My tweezers, both for enamel and micromosaic, are the most useful tool. I customize the tweezers 7528 with sandpaper, a small modification that makes them perfect, and heaven help anyone who touches them — they are sacred.
What would you say to someone who thinks your art is “too difficult” to begin with?
It’s difficult only if you never start. There is a style that suits everyone, and this allows even those with little manual skill to create spectacular works.
Is there a new direction you would like to explore in the coming years? Future projects?
I’m working on a new book and many other new projects, but you will have to keep following me on social media to discover them.
What would you say to someone who thinks your art is “too difficult” to begin with?
It’s difficult only if you never start. There is a style that suits everyone, and this allows even those with little manual skill to create spectacular works.
In addition to being an established artist, you have also been a Hobbyland customer for many years, and it is a real pleasure for us to support you in your projects. What are the reasons you would recommend buying from the Hobbyland website?
Efficiency and professionalism. In more than 10 years I have never had any problems.
One last question, a slightly embarrassing one but one that will make our readers smile: tell us something you do in the studio that you would never admit in a “serious” course.
Let’s just say that if you don’t dance while firing enamel in the kiln, you’re only having half the fun.
To conclude: a sentence or a word that inspires those who, like you, want to pursue this career.
In all craft professions you encounter difficulties. You must always repeat to yourself: “Today is not a good day to give up, tomorrow neither.”
If you too want to be inspired by this artist, you can follow her content on her official social media channels:
