Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ted Bumpus. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ted, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

As a bespoke Craftsman, I have worked on many marvelous creations. It brings me true joy and fulfillment to help bring a person’s ideas to life. There is one piece that will always stick with me. Several years ago, a friend (we will call J.S.) came to me with what some might consider an odd request. A person he considered to be family had recently passed after a challenging and sudden battle with Cancer. J.S. wanted a piece of memorial jewelry to be made as a gift for the deceased’s older brother using the actual cremated remains, so that he would always have his sibling close by.

I sat down with J.S. and learned as much as I could about the deceased – where his passions came out, what brought joy into his life, and what felt important to him. After talking for a long time and really get to understand him, I came up with a design based around a symbol from one of his favorite franchises. I hand crafted this piece from Sterling Silver, and inlaid into it a combination of genuine Turquoise, Opal, and actual cremated remains from the deceased.

The piece turned out to be truly magical and one of a kind. Grief can be all consuming, a sense of loss that overwhelms us. I am no stranger to it, having also lost my younger brother tragically on Christmas Eve 2016. The chance to work with someones grief and transform it into a talisman meant to be healing, was profoundly cathartic for me. It gave me a chance to process through some of my own feelings regarding the way we live on in others – their memories – their hearts.

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?

Hi! I’m Ted from Of Spirit and Bone. For 16 years, I have acted as a bespoke craftsman specializing in the intersection of creativity and spirituality. I have always had a love of learning new skills and deeply believe that creation is an act of spirit. I’ve spent my entire life learning Silver/metalsmithing, fine woodworking, leatherwork, bookbinding, blacksmithing, whipmaking, and so much more. In 2009 I was Ordained and have acted as a Pagan Minister, performing numerous unique and powerful ceremonies and offering educational opportunities. With my diverse skill set, I am able to offer an array of creations using a variety of materials. It’s not uncommon for me to have designed and built the engagement ring, wedding rings, the box to put them in, and have written and performed the ceremony for a wedding.

Humanity has always used the act of creation and art as a way to process emotion and connect to other people. Each time we create something, we are connecting to a powerful lineage. Our ability to create, to bring art into this world is uniquely special and is an act of magic. This is a primary philosophy through which I have lived my life and I want to share that with anyone that desires it.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In my view, the best way to support artists and other creatives starts with seeing them as valuable. Your average person has a tendency to take art for granted, without realizing that every time they watch a movie, look at photos, or put on a warm knit sweater, that they are enjoying the labor of artists. If we take a step back, and appreciate the time, energy, and passion that goes into something, we begin to see the true beauty in it. Without art and artists, the world would truly be a sad place.

So go out and support your local artists!

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?

As artists, we can be harder and more critical of ourselves than any one else. So often, we desire perfection, or to make something truly unique. In a world as connected as ours is, it can be so easy to feel lost in the shuffle, like what we make doesn’t matter or isn’t special enough. Trust me when I tell you that it is special. It is unique. It is perfection. It is all of those things because you made it. You spent your time, effort, and energy putting yourself into something. Each mistake, each success, are all steps along that process and should be celebrated. As artists, the best lesson we can learn is to celebrate ourselves and be gentle on ourselves when we can’t.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ofspiritandbone.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofspiritandbone/

Image Credits

Theodore Bumpus