Something New This Way Comes!

I had my first ever silversmithing lesson over at Zion Artisans studio, here in Leeds, Utah on Monday of this week. Silversmithing is something I've been interested in for many years, but always 'set aside' as something not too likely to happen. However, with the art studio that opened earlier this year, just 5 minutes away, the opportunity is there, it doesn't cost too much and I can try it out.

You can click here to visit their website:

I really do have to hand it to Dan Mead and his lovely wife, Renata, who operate Zion Artisans. Dan has gone all out to put opportunities for creative growth right here in this little town of 700 or so people. He's taken over a space formerly occupied by a gift shop (a sizable one, at that) and poured blood, sweat and tears (and a lot of moolah!) into providing a local center for budding metalsmiths, lapidarists, lampworkers and more. Not to mention a gathering place to draw seasoned artists, as well. The entire southwestern corner of Utah is a very artsy community, which is one of the main reasons I like it here so much.

I can go to the studio, fire up a torch and melt glass to my heart's content. But I do want to learn other things and finally took the leap and signed up for the silversmithing class, taught by Tom. Tom showed me part of his body of work--I was blown away! Incredibly exquisite silver work, some combined with gorgeous leatherwork. I would link him here but he's very private and cannot be found online. His work is sold to private individuals and galleries. And it's verrry expensive.

I've only had one session thus far and have only learned the very basics of soldering copper and silver. My first project is a bezeled oval shaped stone that will be a pendant. But already my brain is exploding with dozens of design ideas!  (Now if I only had the $$$ to execute these visions!) Silversmithing is not going to be very economical, I can see that already!

However, I have something new and exciting to toss around in my head and I'm loving the process thus far! In making beads, my torch is stationary, while my hands are constantly moving the glass through the flame. With soldering metal, the piece is stationary while my hand is moving the torch constantly. So that's a big change to adjust to.

Ultimately, I dream of setting my glass pieces in silver to make some pieces that are uniquely mine.

 I'll post my first 'learning' piece when it's finished.

Till next time,

"Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things." ~ Steve Jobs