About the Artist

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Elaine Tan arrived in Seattle, Washington in December 1977 to pursue a college degree after working in the banking industry in Asia. After receiving a B.A. Degree in Business Management from Portland State University, Tan embarked on a career in international trade and banking at several large corporations and government agencies before starting her Real Estate business in 1992.

In 2003, Elaine started to experiment with various art projects as an outlet for her creative energy. Her first project was making water fountains, followed by handmade greeting cards and somehow detoured into jewelry making. Tan started giving her jewelry to friends and family as gifts. In 2004, Tan created Red Shoe Studio, making one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry. That marked the beginning of a journey filled with creative fulfillment and passion.

Click here to take a look inside Elaine’s studio.

Artist Statement

All of my work is either one-of-a-kind, limited edition or custom pieces. They are bold, simple and make a statement. Individually designed and created, I use high quality and unique findings, natural stones, gems and pearls, and other natural materials accented with glass, precious and semi-precious metals.

I love the creative process of combining color, texture and design. Using organic materials allows me to create work that brings out the natural beauty of imperfection. I am particularly attracted to using materials that “have a story”, whether they are made centuries ago, or archaeologically discovered, or a new invention of man-made components. To me, creating my work is a delicate balancing act of asymmetry and substance.