Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Beth Aimée. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Beth, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?
I started dabbling with making jewelry while I had a day job running an art gallery. I mustered up the courage to put a few of my first creations on display in the gallery. Meanwhile, I was ready for a career shift and daydreamed about what to pursue next. I considered my favorite activities (hiking, cooking, art) and wondered how I could make money while doing the things I love.
When my first necklace sold, I was ecstatic. I hatched a plan: I’d make a necklace in the morning and go for a hike in the afternoon. Great lifestyle, solid business plan! I quit my job at the gallery, took some immersive silversmithing classes, and registered my business with the state of Montana.
Reality hit quickly. That necklace doesn’t sell itself. And that sale price has to cover the gallery’s commission (40-50%), materials, overhead, and so on. I took a business class designed for artists and got a little smarter about the financial and administrative and marketing side of a creative business. So much for my free afternoon to go hiking. But I found that I loved the challenge of learning to run a sustainable business. It’s not as fun as working in the studio (or hiking); but still rewarding.
Beth, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Slow craft, small batch, and artisan-made may be over used terms, but they’re accurate descriptors of what I do. Starting with simple materials: a sheet of metal, some wire, a pair of dividers and a jeweler’s saw, I begin to create, employing centuries-old silversmithing techniques. Success is a compelling design that wears well, a unique piece that makes a woman feel joyful and beautiful.
I live and play in the mountains. The natural world is filled with magnificent surprises, and I’m fascinated by the way it is in a constant state of change. Daily walks along the powerful Yellowstone River with the imposing Absaroka Mountains overhead remind me of the earth forces that create the precious metals and natural gemstones I work with. I think of my craft as bridging between the work of geological forces and the work of manmade tools and artistic vision.
I studied Neurobiology and studio art in college. Both disciplines thrive on curiosity and inquiry, and both require skill and precision. I had a long path to arrive at metalsmithing. I worked in Neurobiology labs. I taught in a two-room rural school. I ran an art gallery. But now that I’m here, it all makes sense. I’m a geek for tools, a sucker for gemstones, and I could spend all day happily tinkering with silver at my workbench. Metalsmithing is the perfect medium for the artist/scientist that I am.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
As a silversmith, I serve as a steward of my craft. I’m keeping a long-time craft alive, and adding my own imprint. Most of the tools I use are very simple and have been around centuries; but the jewelry I make is unique and contemporary. I think that’s really cool.
As an artist, I get to share my ideas and my aesthetic through the things I make. It’s humbling that my creations are being worn and enjoyed around the country by people I’ve never met. But it’s even more rewarding when I get to interact with my customers at festivals or through online chatting. It’s a very special way to connect with other people.
And then it’s also cool that my life is bookmarked by the things I made during specific times and seasons. My art reflects my changing interests, values and moods.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I went through a divorce in the first year of the pandemic. I was devastated by the collapse of my 26 year marriage. For several months, I couldn’t focus on my work. I needed time to be introspective, to lean on my friends, to work on the long process of healing. Due to the pandemic, all of the art festivals were cancelled and several of the stores that carried my work closed their doors. My income was halted. Fortunately, federal and state CoVid relief grants kept my business afloat and allowed me a grace period to grieve and heal.
In the fall of 2020, I started to shift my focus from victim to survivor. My business was a huge source of strength for me. I was very proud of what I’d built and so glad that I had something tangible and substantial that was clearly mine. I think of this shift as the time when I stood up and took ownership of the woman I am. I did a hard reset of my values, realizing that the connections we maintain with others are precious and deserve time and attention, that having compassion for others is the most important work we do, and our seemingly inconsequential daily interactions are the place where we can really offer the most of ourselves. I experienced so much gratitude: for my business, for my children, for my friends, and for this opportunity to very deliberately choose the life I desire and the person I want to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bethaimeejewelry.com
- Instagram: @bethaimeejewelry
- Facebook: bethaimeejewelry
Image Credits
Park Photo Melanie Nashan