We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashleigh Wheeler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashleigh, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned electroforming through a lot of research and trial and error. I’m self-taught so I relied on fellow artists willing to share their expertise and techniques. Electroforming is a process that uses electricity and chemicals to create the finished product, so taking the time to learn the science behind the process helped me to understand how all the parts need to work together to produce the desired results.

If I could go back I would have invested in my tools and equipment much sooner. I spent a lot of time researching and trying to understand the process before I had the tools of the trade. Once I had gotten comfortable I quickly learned I was going to need to invest in higher-quality tools and equipment.

For jewelry making in general, being detail-oriented is a must-have skill. For electroforming, attention to detail is key to not only making a piece of jewelry but doing so safely. Electroforming has a lot of parts that need to work together for the process to work properly. If the copper sulfate solution is contaminated, the power is too high, or a laundry list of other things aren’t just right, you won’t get the expected results or it may not work at all. There’s a lot of maintenance involved to keep the quality of the jewelry up to my standards.

One of the biggest obstacles for me was myself. When I first started I felt a lot of imposter syndrome because I lack any kind of formal training. I don’t have any background in jewelry making or science so I felt like a fake trying to combine the two with my jewelry style. This kept me stagnant for a while because I felt like I had a lane I needed to stay in. I’ve never felt particularly creative so it’s been a journey to get to the point where I can describe my work as art and myself as an artist. Between some amazing fellow local artists and the electroforming artist community, I’ve been able to gain more confidence in my art and myself.

Ashleigh, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi there! I’m Ashleigh, a self-taught electroforming artist. I combine crystals and other organic materials to create nature-inspired jewelry. I’ve always been interested in jewelry design and had tried a couple of other techniques in the past but they didn’t allow me to create the designs I wanted. When I discovered electroforming I knew that was it for me! After a lot of research, I bought my first set of tools and equipment and haven’t looked back since.

My goal is to create quality jewelry with some whimsy that celebrates nature. Each piece is intentionally crafted to show off materials like natural crystals, twigs, and dried flowers. I take a lot of inspiration from butterflies and moths and have an entire permanent collection dedicated to them. I strive to create pieces that will stand the test of time in both quality and style.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn thinking only certain people were meant to be artists. For most of my life, I associated artists with natural talent and assumed they didn’t have to work hard or practice to create art. Some people may take to things quicker or it may seem easier to them, but that doesn’t make them experts. Once I realized all artists and creatives – no matter what skill level – start from ground zero and fail a lot before they get better, I was able to give myself permission to dive in and try things. I also had to unlearn what I associated art with. Previously, if someone had described themself as an artist I would have assumed they were a more traditional artist who paints or draws. Now I see there is art in everything.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing for me is seeing how much people resonate with my art. I’ve met so many wonderful people because something I created reminded them of a loved one or a good memory. I’ve been able to work on custom pieces for people using components that are important to them. Knowing that something I designed and created from start to finish is bringing someone joy makes my heart full.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sobelowminerals.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sobelowminerals/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sobelowminerals