Learn Metalsmithing
Metalsmithing is a craft you never really finish learning.
There is always another technique to understand, another problem to solve, another tool to become comfortable with, and another lesson hiding in the metal itself. This is where I share the knowledge, observations, influences, and bench lessons that have shaped me over more than two decades as a metalsmith, designer, and educator.
Whether you are trying to figure out why something went wrong at the bench, wondering what skill you should learn next, curious about the history behind the techniques we use, or interested in the makers who helped shape contemporary metalsmithing, you’ll find a place to explore here.
My goal isn’t simply to tell you how to make something. I want to help you understand why it works, what the metal is telling you, and how to make better decisions at your own bench.
Choose Where You’d Like to Explore
At the Bench
Understand what the metal is telling you.
Troubleshooting, tools, fabrication, stone setting, soldering, and all those little decisions that can make the difference between fighting a project and understanding what needs to happen next.
These articles are built around the questions metalsmiths actually ask at the bench:
Why did this happen? What should I change? And how do I avoid it next time?
The Metalsmith’s Learning Path
Know what to learn next.
One of the hardest parts of teaching yourself metalsmithing is knowing what skill should come next.
Here we’ll talk about building skills intentionally—from foundational fabrication to more advanced stone setting and problem solving—so you can spend less time wondering whether you’re “ready” and more time growing at your own pace.
Jewelry History & Design
Understand the ideas and traditions behind the craft.
Jewelry doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The tools, techniques, forms, and design choices we use today are connected to generations of makers who came before us.
Here we’ll explore jewelry history, important books, traditional techniques, design movements, and the ideas that continue to influence how contemporary metalsmiths work.
Explore Jewelry History & Design →
Makers Who Shaped Me
Meet the artists and metalsmiths who changed the way I see metal.
Throughout my career, certain makers have stopped me in my tracks.
Some changed the way I think about form. Others changed how I approach a technique, solve a problem, or even think about what jewelry can be.
In this ongoing series, I share the artists, teachers, and metalsmiths whose work has influenced my own—and the lessons I continue to carry with me at the bench.
Explore Makers Who Shaped Me →
There Is Always More to Learn
The more time you spend working with metal, the more you realize that becoming a better metalsmith isn’t about memorizing a collection of techniques.
It’s about learning to observe, diagnose, experiment, and understand.
That is the kind of metalsmith I want to help you become. So choose a path, pull up a chair at the bench, and explore. There’s always something new to discover.