Jewelry Artist Podcast: Mark Nelson Believes in Practice, Patience, and Whatever It Takes

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If you make jewelry and ever need tools or supplies, you’ve probably heard of Mark Nelson. He’s Rio Grande’s Education Coordinator. Not surprisingly, he’s also a self-described tool tinkerer and a jewelry artist. He has a great sense of humor, too. Recently, I asked Mark to tell us something about his jewelry making interests.

ABOVE: Bracelet, silver, copper, and lapis, with a magnet in the clasp. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF AND WORK BY MARK NELSON

Here’s how it went!

Worthy of Emotional Investment and Connection

MW: Your jewelry artist profile says you like to make cool stuff that’s worthy of all the emotional investment people put into their jewelry, or something to that effect. What makes jewelry worthy of that responsibility in your eyes?

MARK NELSON: A very big component is that the piece has to be made to last — that would be #1. Another thing that I can only hope for is that the piece makes a personal emotional connection to the wearer.

MW: What do you think is the most successful piece you’ve made, and in what way do you think it is successful?

MARK: The most successful piece is one that fulfills its intent. If something is designed to be bright and shiny and take the viewer’s breath away and it does that . . . it’s successful. If a piece is supposed to touch someone’s heart and it does . . . it, too, is successful. Intents differ from piece to piece. Most of the time I strive to keep it rather simple. For instance, I might want the piece to just be BOLD or have WEIGHT to it, or both and just leave it at that.

My most successful piece I can think of, though, was a commission piece. I was never impressed with it artistically, but creatively it was a major achievement. A customer gave me a whole box of her old jewelry and asked if I could make something with it all. (And it was a lot: several ounces of gold and about 2 carats in small diamonds.) I did several sketches for her and we decided on a path I would take. (Definitely not in my style, but she liked it.) Eventually I was able to complete the project and present her with it. When she saw it she wept and gave me the biggest hug. I’ve never seen a reaction like that and rarely been able to touch someone that profoundly. It was an amazing experience.

Sacrifice to the Goddess

MW: What are some of the pieces you’ve made that are your favorites, and what do you like about them?

MARK: One of my favorite pieces is Betty the Jewelry Goddess. It started off as kind of a joke, really. At Texas Tech we kept having casting failures and we felt we needed a goddess to sacrifice to in order to help even the odds of getting a good casting.

It’s also the only human figure that I have carved from wax. I set a challenge to myself to think of the wax as stone and not add any wax in the process. I think it’s a very funny piece and people get a kick out of seeing the little secrets I placed in it — even the professors grading it.

My favorite recent piece would be the lapis bracelet I made for myself [shown at top]. I did two cool things with it. I used a blanking die I made in a class with Jayne Redman, using the die to cut the copper crosses around each stone. I also included a magnet in the clasp to assist in keeping the bracelet closed. I also love that it’s a heavy bold piece and worthy of wearing during Indian Market in Santa Fe. If you wear your jewelry to that event, it needs to be big. 

Lessons Learned and Still to Learn

MW: What is the next thing you want to learn to do, or learn better, and what do you like about that?

MARK: Whoa! That’s a loaded question for someone who’s that kid in the candy store! 😊 Working at Rio I get to see just about everything and typically want to try it all. CAD rapid prototyping, hand engraving, lampwork, lapidary, stamping, casting, plating, wax carving. Heck, you name it, and it’s probably on the list. Most of the time I have to base my decisions on “Can I afford it?” and “Will my wife let me bring it in the house?” Neither happens very often.

BUT . . I have taken up power hand engraving. I was able to get a GRS setup and I’ve been able to find a moment here and there to push a graver and I absolutely love it. It’s the one thing I’ll continue to pursue as much as possible. I would also love to try CAD and rapid prototyping at some point. That would be a ton of fun.

MW: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a jewelry artist?

MARK: #1 would be that there is A LOT to learn. It’s one of the reasons I love this craft/trade/medium. No matter how much you know, there is always more to learn — and someone who would gladly share their knowledge with you. One of the things I enjoy most in my job is the ability to connect people so they can get the best answer to their question. I might not know the answer, chances are I don’t, but I’m pretty sure I know someone who does. 

MW: What advice do you have for aspiring jewelry makers?

MARK: Be patient. I often run into students who want to do it all in a week’s time and get frustrated when they can’t, or when they make mistakes. There is absolutely no way to become a good jeweler/silversmith without making mistakes. The trick is learning what to do to fix it and not let it happen again.

I tell people all the time: “I’m actually not that great a jeweler, I just happen to be gifted at fixing mistakes.” I also like to say: “One mistake is just that, a mistake. A thousand mistakes can be texture.”

Merle White is Editor-in-Chief of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist.

Learn More from Mark Nelson on the Jewelry Artist Podcast

I want to meet Mark Nelson! The next best thing is hearing him talk about jewelry tools and more with Jewelry Artist podcast host Katie Hacker. You won’t want to miss a word! Listen below and subscribe wherever you like to listen to podcasts.

Love Jewelry Tools?

Check out the new July/August Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. It’s the special Tool & Supply Issue!