Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Diliberto
Hi Joshua, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started making chainmaille after watching the movie “Braveheart” when I was 17 yearls old. I was so inspired by the chainmaille armor in that movie that I knew immediately this was what I wanted to do in life. I studied how to make chainmaille by looking in books at my local library. I built a jig in my parents garage to coil wire. Back then, I cut the rings with a jeweler’s hand saw. Now, I have very expensive machines that cut the rings for me. Along my chainmaille art journey, I had to quit three times; I wasn’t making enough money to live off of. I kept coming back to it; finally made enough money to support myself.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most artists, I’ve had to struggle a lot to make a living. I used to sell only finished product: jewelry, armor, ornaments, etc. I did well selling at a renaissance fair in Wisconsin, but I quickly realized that I wasn’t going to be able to do it full time for very long. It’s hard labor making chainmaille and eventually I would wear down my body. When my daughter was born, I ventured into making tutorials, kits, and selling supplies for chainmaille. That’s when things really took off for me. Moving all of my business online was one of my best decisions I ever made. When Covid hit, all of the outdoor venues closed and many artists that sold in person lost their businesses.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My chainmaille artwork mainly focuses on creative weaves and bold designs. Weaves are different patterns, like sewing stitches. So far, I have over 100 unique weaves that I’ve discovered. There are about 1600 total weaves that exist in the industry. There seems to be only a few different cultural weaves from antiquity (European, Japanese and Persian) found by archeologists. Almost all new weaves have been discovered in the last 50 years. My favorite materials to work in are stainless steel, titanium, and gold. I like to use large rings that really stand out and get attention.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The main advise I give is to keep going. Keep working, keep making cool stuff, and finding new and interesting things. If you keep going, there are so many rewards waiting for you. Many of the rewards surprised me. Being an artist allows me to be very flexible with my time. I get to always be there for my daughter when she needs me.
Pricing:
- Stainless steel bracelets $100-$300
- Titanium armor $50k – $100k
- Stainless steel ornaments and pendants $50-$100
- Aluminum and rubber footbags $400
- Custom weapons $1k – $10k
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joshuadiliberto.com/JD_newWebPages/index.php
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshua.diliberto.3/
