We recently connected with Susan Fox and have shared our conversation below.

Susan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I think I always knew I wanted to figure out a way to transform my creative and artistic skills into a professional career. As a child, I spent many Saturday afternoons taking various drawing, painting, and metalsmithing classes at Cranbrook and the BBAC. I always loved making things and collecting interesting “tchotchkes”. I took apart all sorts of objects: old watches, door knobs, mechanical toys, anything with moving parts, just to see how they were made, then reconfigure the random pieces into my own creations. Goldsmithing and jewelry always fascinated me. I have always been drawn to small intricate objects with a bit of sparkle. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work as a jewelry apprentice, in high school, which eventually led to my career as a professional Goldsmith/Jeweler.

Susan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I always knew I wanted to do something creative, and becoming a goldsmith/jeweler had intrigued me as a potential career. My introduction to the jewelry industry started as a senior in high school. I participated in an apprentice program called Project Involved. It was kind of like Co-Op, instead of getting paid to work, you were allowed to apprentice in a chosen field of interest, as a potential career. With a strong desire to learn and very little jewelry experience, I found a local jewelry designer that took me under his wing. After a 6-month apprenticeship, I worked for him, on and off, for 8 years. During that time, I gradually refined my skills and had the confidence to open my own jewelry design studio, Susan Fox Jewelry Design. I’ve been working as an independent studio jeweler for over 40 years.

My jewelry is made of precious metals and gemstones. I love working with different colored metals and textures: gold,
silver, stones, and pearls are treated as individual design elements with subtle color and surface variations. As both artist and jeweler, my challenge is executing visually pleasing jewelry that functions both technically and emotionally. My work is influenced by traditional fiber and textile techniques I explored as a fibers major at College for Creative Studies. Like a quilt maker, I appliqué, overlap, and intersect materials to create a piece of jewelry. Often, the finished piece of jewelry has an elegant simplicity that defies its complex structure. My hope is that people enjoy wearing the jewelry, as much as I enjoy making it.

For many years, I participating in select craft and museum shows throughout the country. It was a wonderful experience. Although I’ve stopped doing shows, I continue to work from my own studio doing private commissions, wholesale contract work, and exhibiting at select galleries throughout the country.

I feel very fortunate that I’m able to make a living doing something I love. I especially enjoy working on custom pieces. It affords me the opportunity to work intimately with clients to create one-of-a-kind pieces specifically designed for them. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with many couples to design and make their engagement and wedding bands. I often use unusual colored stones in place of traditional diamonds and incorporate special stylized symbols and letters in the design. The finished rings are a personal statement to the new couple. Sometimes, my client relationships have developed into friendships that continue to this day.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think one of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is the ability to create something from start to finish. First, you have an idea or concept. Then, you have to figure out how to develop that into an actual object. In my case, a piece of jewelry that functions both technically and aesthetically. Sometimes the development process is relatively smooth: all the pieces easily fall into place. Other times, the process is much more challenging. It may take several attempts and lots of experimentation to arrive at the desired finished piece. Either way, I always learn something along the way and feel a sense of accomplishment at seeing the final product.
Private commissions are also quite rewarding. I can work intimately with a client to create a one-of-a-kind piece specifically designed for them. The entire process evolves over time. I get to know the client and what they want, guide them through the design process, and eventually create a piece of jewelry based on their personal vision. It’s very satisfying to do that. Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many people over the years.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Sometimes I think non-creatives struggle to understand the importance and strong desire of an artist or creative person to work at their craft. Their creativity is an integral part of their personality. Sometimes, I feel creative people often look and see the world and their surroundings a bit differently and the tradeoffs to feed their creative personalities are misunderstood.

Contact Info:

• Website: susanfoxjewelry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sfoxdesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanfoxjewelrydesign/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanfoxjewelry/