We recently connected with Richard Sandomeno and have shared our conversation below.

Richard , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

For as long as I can remember, I have always been a curious person with mechanical aptitudes. This curiosity has guided and driven me throughout my life. My mechanical inclinations led me to disassemble, modify, and reassemble things in a way that is more appealing to me. I acquired my skillsets from various sources, with some skills not immediately apparent at the time.

For instance, I learned welding in high school. In my previous career, I worked as a diesel mechanic, handling everything from fire trucks to ferries and everything in between. Working in these diverse environments instilled in me the confidence to stand by my work, follow through on tasks, and a willingness to ask questions and collaborate within a team.

My jewelry-making skills were initially cultivated during night school in a continuing education program at SVA in NYC. Additionally, I’ve taken classes at the 92nd Street Y, Newark Museum of Art, and Peter’s Valley. All of these experiences introduced me to various disciplines in fabrication and design.

The real learning journey took off when I started consistently working on my own. It has been over 40 years since I began this learning process, and I am just as curious today as I was when I was a child.

Richard , 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?

My name is Rich Sandomeno, and I’m 52 years old. I’m originally from New Jersey. For the last 17+ years, I’ve been living and working in Los Angeles, CA. I’m the owner and operator of Spragwerks, an accessories brand, and a metal design fabrication business located in Echo Park. It’s a one-man operation focusing on the design and fabrication of objects made from metal, fine jewelry, architectural metal works, art fabrication, leatherwork, and custom car/hot rod parts.

I started Spragwerks in 2001, initially as a jewelry brand. Over the years, it has blossomed into a multidisciplinary metal fabrication business. These days, my clientele is a revolving door of individuals, artists, production designers, wardrobe designers, stylists, and architects.

Over the years, I’ve developed a reputation for being available and willing to tackle unique, special, and original works for my clients, often under tight timelines. Despite my background not being in art or design – I’m a diesel mechanic by trade – I learned the majority of my skills by attending trade schools, taking night classes, participating in weekend seminars, and, most importantly, by just doing it, trying my hand at whatever I wanted to learn and get better at.

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

What I find most rewarding is having the opportunity to make things with my own hands, more specifically, experiencing the magic that happens when I help bring someone’s creation to life.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

When you love your job you never have to work.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.spragwerks.com
• Instagram: @spragwerks
• Facebook: Spragwerks

Image Credits
Tim Sutton Craig Able Champion Bryan Beasley