Today we’d like to introduce you to Crawford Shortt
Hi Crawford, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
For as long as I can remember I have always been doodling and drawing. Growing up in Ireland i was inspired by Celtic art and early stone work. After moving to Texas life began to get in the way. Not finding any satisfaction in drawing sculpting became my means of expression. Waking up one morning and staring at a piece of limestone I reached for a screwdriver and a carpenters hammer and started sculpting. When finished I had before me a dancing nude. It promptly sold. So my journey started. At present circumstances do not allow me to work in limestone. While working with master jeweler Russell Smith I became interested in fabricating jewelry Then I experienced the work of Alexander Calder. Wow! Later while working in a bike shop I realized the hidden potential of used bicycle spokes. They have since become my raw material and led me to where I am today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No it has not been smooth. The number of “failures” on my bench is disturbing. However failure is a good motivator. Trail and error are my bench mates.
I also experience “imposter syndrome” when showing my work around other jewelers. This is hard to overcome. As I wrote sometime ago,
He fidgets
The artist
In shrinking self confidence.
Slight reverses
Do not outshine
A margin of honourable
Triumph.
The wear and tear on my hands is becoming more noticeable. I only use hand tools to work the stainless steel spokes.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am most proud of the fact that I use recycle materials in my jewelry fabrication. Because each piece is fabricated by hand only one is made not to be repeated. I employ a “stream of consciousness” design process. Moving pieces around my bench I slowly come to an idea I like. I take a photograph of the idea to revisit it at a later date. At the revisit the design might change because I don’t have the same elements at hand, or I don’t like it. The the fabrication when anything might happen. The original idea may persist, or evolve, or change completely. This excites me and I think leads to unique pieces of art jewelry.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Listening to Spotify at the moment I am discovering the “Canterbury Scene” Its music allows me to daydream. I don’t listen to podcasts when I work because I find the topic and the spoken word distracting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://etsy.com/shop/CrawfordRRShortt
- Instagram: @crawfordrrsshorttjewelry
