We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melina Nikolina Donalson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Melina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?

Before I actually started soldering jewelry and using a torch, I took a few metalsmithing tools and safety classes with a retired teacher who offered classes out of his home workshop. I’m both a visual and experiential learner and it definitely helped me get past my fears of working with fire and sharp tools. This was in 2014 and since then, I’ve been self-taught through trial and error, experimenting and curiosity. I found my way to jewelry after many years working in Hollywood as a Costumer and Designer. Jewelry is the medium that absolutely captures my attention in every way, as I’ve always been an artist, sculptor and designer who’s obsessed with adornment

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 didn’t find my way to jewelry until I was in my early 40s. I’ve been an artist and designer all my life, and worked in many mediums. But, nothing ever grabbed my focus and pulled me in like jewelry does. A year or so before I started thinking about making jewelry, I had been diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, autoimmune arthritis and lupus. I was quite ill at the time, and felt devastated by this news. I spent months grappling with the reality of medications, limitations and disability.
Eventually, once my symptoms were managed well enough I felt the spark of creativity returning. I think I was daydreaming one sunny afternoon and looking at a ring my mom had sent me. Something in me clicked, and I began researching ways I could learn to solder and make jewelry.
When something piques my interest, there’s usually no stopping me. Jewelry has become my everyday, everything. I think about it almost constantly. I even dream about it and problem-solve designs in my sleep.
My work is very bold yet feminine, often statement sized and mostly nature-inspired. Yet, it’s never just one thing or specific style. I don’t like repeating my designs and love to challenge myself and I’m always moving forward.
I feel those who connect with my work are probably a lot like me in ways.
When I look back to when I started smithing, and what I was going through then and now, I feel lucky. Making the decision to be daring and just try something new because I wanted to. But, mostly because I needed to find my spark again. I sure found it and it’s set my creativity ablaze.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As I already mentioned, I live with overlapping autoimmune conditions. I was also diagnosed as Autistic with ADHD much later in life, and this discovery helped my whole life and inner experience to fall into place, and sense for the first time ever. I always had a very difficult time socializing, working in groups and being in the world among others. The Autism testing and assessment I completed showed that I scored “superior/genius” level in the areas of visual processing, and that I struggle in most other areas. I think in pictures and highly detailed diagrams, and never realized that it was different. It explained so much for me. Learning more about my strengths and weaknesses has helped to empower me, and have a lot more compassion for myself these days. Self discovery feels never-ending and so fascinating.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to continue this privilege of being able to wake up each morning and walk into my home jewelry studio and do what I do, in my own way. I’m not trying to build a brand or an empire. My work keeps my spark going and my bills paid. That feels like enough for me.  

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lupanyxa.com
• Instagram: @lupanyxajewelry

Image Credits
Autumn Swisher Photography portrait of me