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

John, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

In my early 20’s I picked up wire wrapping jewelry as a hobby. My girlfriend at the time was a karaoke DJ, and I would work on my hobby at whatever bar she was working. One day, after doing this consistently for a few months, one of the karaoke regulars, whom I would see every week, came up to me. She was a kind older woman, who was always adorning tons of jewelry, a ring on every finger. She asked if she could buy the necklace I was working on and if she could commission me for another. At the time, I was giving away my creations and didn’t think anyone would want to pay for it. Her appreciation for my art really touched me, and I figured I should keep going.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m John Draper and I’m an artist from Fresno, CA. I started collecting rocks and crystals when I was a kid. In my early 20’s I discovered the art or wire wrapping, an ancient form of jewelry making dating back to Egyptians times. I fell in love with the idea of taking old techniques and coming up with fresh artistic creations. After building up my jewelry making prowess, I took on lapidary work. I like having creative control of the whole process, from the size, shape, & polish of a gemstone to the weaves and wrappings of the metals. Several years in I decided I wanted to make something bigger then jewelry, something sculptural. I drew inspiration from local bonsai gardens as well as the many climates and types of trees that grow all over California. I started making tree sculptures out of wire. I had seen wire trees before but I wanted to make it my own and make something no one had seen before. Whether it’s the sculptures or the jewelry, I’m always striving to make something unique, something one of kind and bespoke.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

In my creative journey, I’ve always been someone who learns by doing. Failure has been my best teacher. But, I’ve also learned along the way, that there are always great resources out there. It took a few years but eventually I found the Fresno Gem & Mineral society which was filled with great people and great classes. Most towns and cities have some Gem Club which is there to help anyone on a similar journey.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Whenever possible, buy locally and pay cash. Obviously I want folks from all over the world to find my website and take home a piece of my art. However, buying something locally is what boosts the community. If you need an artistic gift for a friend, family member, or yourself, then find a local art show, art festival, or craft fair before heading the big box store. And, when you pay in cash, the artist gets to keep the most money, no percentages to the card processing company.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.intensionproductions.com
• Instagram: @intensionproductions

Image Credits

John Draper