We recently connected with Julianne Vickery and have shared our conversation below.

Julianne, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best investments I have made over the last two and a half years were educational. In 2020 I started playing with fire and metal and had these ideas that I felt I needed to bring to life. Not having a formal metal smithing education made that a challenge. I poured over online videos, books and every free resource I could get my hands on. There were so many incredible resources out there, but I wanted more. I invested in online classes was able to learn advanced techniques that would have taken me years to figure out on my own. I love learning from a master. There is something comforting and reassuring that the person you are watching has already carved the paths that you are on. Investing in great education can be an enormous boost in your confidence and I have never regretted spending the money and time.

Julianne, 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?

I have been making jewelry and art since my childhood. In 2008 I took a basic metal smithing course in college and loved the weird science of patina work and playing with fire. But after learning the bare minimum, I didn’t pick up a saw or torch for 12 more years! In February 2020, I decided to turn my creative passion into a career. Inspired by nature and history, I strive for my work to land at the intersection of modern and ancient design. I love the process of smithing. The hours it can take to create a piece and the delicate balance between glorious success and melted disaster motivate me to keep going. There are an endless amount of ways to do any one task and I think one thing I excel at is persistence. I don’t view my mistakes as failures. Making mistakes is the best way to learn something and never forget it! If there is a skill or an idea I want to learn, I don’t stop until I figure out a way to do it and I think that is a common thread among metal smiths. But not everyone is cut out for it, so I suppose in a way it sets my work apart. There is a long and fascinating history behind the art of smithing and I love that I get to drop my coin in its deep fountain.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One of my favorite podcasts to share with other creative people is “The Creative Pep Talk” with Andy J. Pizza. The host, Andy is an illustrator in Ohio who helps creatives build and maintain successful businesses. Often times creatives are highly sensitive people who can easily get discouraged by the challenges of running a business. Creative Pep Talk is just that, a loving kick in the ass with a heaping helping of empathy and comedy. Andy interviews a wide variety of artists with a wide variety of mediums and I just love listening when I need a pick me up or am looking for guidance.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think my desire is to bring some speck of value to the history of this art. Value can be found in a lot of different things, but the most valuable thing to me are the connections and community I have made along the way. Building connections with other artists, metal smiths, and clients has been the most fulfilling aspect of my work and I treasure each one. Cheering each other on through successes, lifting each other up in moments of despair and walking along the path together is the best part of the creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://goldenhourskc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldenhourskc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goldenhourskc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianne-vickery-7a4923177/

Image Credits
Portrait by Zach DelValle