We recently connected with Jeff Fulkerson and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jeff thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

I have always made things, but when I was 16 I wanted a big Navajo bracelet like my cousin’s. Problem – they were going for around $250 at the time and I was making $1.45/hr working in a hobby shop after school. So I got a little book that showed you how to make a silver and turquoise ring, and 4 hours later, I had a ring! Right after that, my family took a vacation and met up with some friends who had a daughter, 18 years old I think (practically ancient!) and she loved the ring, so I sold it to her for $15.00. That gave me more money to spend on silver and turquoise, so I was off to the races, although now I do kind of wish I’d kept my first ring.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I make bold jewelry for bold people. I view my work as more spirited than ‘fine’ jewelry, more intricate and sophisticated than something manufactured. It is a deep, soul-wrought achievement of metal, stone, and fire that pulls together to create something unlike any other. I call it Art Jewelry- it’s as unique as you are. I’ve enjoyed writing jewelry ‘how-to’ articles for several magazines including Lapidary Journal/Jewelry Artist Magazine, Art Jewelry, Rock and Gem among others. But what is really fulfilling to me is teaching someone how to make jewelry and see that spark ignite. Necessity being the mother of invention, I’ve invented a couple of jewelry tools, most notably Spinner Bangle forming disks and the Steady Stamp to aid in stamping metal. I’ve made several teaching videos on a wide variety of jewelry topics, including project videos, ‘How-To’ videos and designing. I try to be available to my students any time through email. My current project is writing a step by step book on inlay techniques for Schiffer Publishing.

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

There’s so much I’ve learned. I would say the biggest thing I had to un-learn was that sometimes, it didn’t work. Don’t waste time trying to resurrect the dead. I learned this when I went over to one of my mentor’s studios and in his bench drawer there were all kinds of half finished pieces. When I asked him about it, he said, ‘oh those didn’t come out right, so I tossed them into the scrap pile. It was an epiphany for me! You mean I could let it go?!! The greatest lesson I’ve learned and that I try to pass on to anyone who’ll listen is ‘You do art for yourself. If someone else likes it, that’s a win. If someone wants to give you money for it, that’s a grand slam!” To me this keeps you fresh and inspired. Most artists are insecure and need to get over other’s opinions. It will set you free!

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

Teaching is the most rewarding aspect of my art. I love sharing my passion with others. A story: I was teaching a class with about 15 students in it when one lady came up to me almost crying. My first thought was that she’d burned herself with a torch OR cut off a finger. When I asked what was wrong, she replied she’d ruined her ring! She’d gotten it too hot and it had started to melt. Understand that a class can cost a lot of money, not only for the class, but for supplies, travel, hotel rooms, and eating out. So wrecking your ring can be an expensive mistake. Now having made just about every mistake you can make, including this one, I told HER don’t worry, we can save it. It’s not going to look exactly like the class sample, but you’ll have a ring.’ We did salvage it, and she came running up to me after class with the biggest grin on her face! As an instructor, that’s pretty satisfying.

Contact Info:

• Website: artistjefffulkerson.com
• Instagram: artist_jeff_fulkerson
• Facebook: Jeff Fulkerson – Artist Jeff Fulkerson
• Youtube: Artist Jeff Fulkerson

Image Credits
Jeff Fulkerson, Jim Lawson – Lapidary Journal