We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Slovis Mandel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa Slovis, 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?

Learning Metalsmith takes time. It is not an instant gratification process. I started in Ceramics and was drawn to metalwork because I felt that it was something that I could control from start to finish (ceramics had kiln issues, glaze issues, etc). I have studied metalsmithing at different levels of schooling : community classes, undergraduate BFA at Wisconsin, and Graduate MFA at SDSU. Each level required time and energy to get good at each technique. Life is a learning process and we have to keep practicing and learning new things or growing how we use what we know. this keeps things exciting. I don’t think you can speed up this process, because as I tell my students, practice, practice practice- then one day, you realize you can do it without thinking about it.
I think the skills that are most essential are the idea that craft is important- I was taught that you must learn the craftsmanship and learn it well. Then whatever I can design, I can figure out how to make. Also, I think that being able to alter things when needed is very important.
I think that sometimes selling your pieces is the biggest obstacle of learning. You become too worried about making something someone will buy than following your heart and just making what you think is good. Making a living definitely can be a design obstacle, but I try to combine the two ideas and not lose my design sense in the process.

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 back background and context?

I started doing Metalwork/Jewelry when I was 15. As an athlete growing up, I loved the hands on approach. I mentally and physically love to create and I enjoy passing that passion onto my students. I teach private lessons, workshops, and classes at Palomar College, Southwestern College and the UCSD Crafts center. In 2010 I wrote the book Pewter Studio. I love to explore the unique qualities of pewter and pass onto others the speed and malleability of forming it into whimsical pieces.
I also love to use my sense of design on the intimate level and blow it up on a grande scale to do more public art sculptures. I love the idea of people walking through my sculptures and interacting with them on a physical level. I feel that art should surround us and I want to help with that. From jewelry to wear, salt and pepper shakers on your table, or a sculpture in front of the house, I enjoy creating the artwork that surrounds you. We like to think of it as “Jewelry for the Neighborhood”.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It is truly rewarding after you create something to see someone’s reaction in a positive way to it. When it is revered because they appreciate the many hours and skill that you have put into it is exciting. I love watching people interact with my art. Seeing them wear the pieces, use the ceremonial objects, or interact with the sculptures is truly exciting. When you meet the people that really respect your craft and appreciate what you do, it is the most rewarding.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I know COVID has been what everyone is talking about and I have to say that my students and I survived the pandemic together. We went online for 3 and half semesters of metalsmithing and jewelry and trust me, that was not an easy task. My students did not have a lot of tools at home, so we changed our direction into jewelry and explored all different artist inspirations and mediums. We explored paper jewelry, fabric jewelry, chain making, costume jewelry etc. The students had to push themselves to create with whatever they could. I think it was a hugely stressful time, but I think that we challenged each other to out think our situations.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: lisaslovismandel
• Facebook: Lisa Slovis Mandel
• Linkedin: Lisa Slovis Mandel

Image Credits
Photos by artist and Mark Tanner