Meet Ryan Gardner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Gardner.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ryan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I originally started making jewelry when I was in college. As part of my Fine Arts degree, I was required to take a number of different mediums. I ended up falling in love with jewelry and metalsmithing and switch my major. I graduated in 2009 with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Three Dimensional Studies with my focus in Jewelry and Metalsmithing. Upon graduation, I moved to Pueblo, CO to apprentice with a well-established jewelry artist, Michael Boyd. I ended up becoming his full-time assistant for over nine years, during which I was also slowly building my own line of work and brand. In 2018, I went completely self-employed in terms of making jewelry and also partnered with Michael Boyd in the Colorado Center of Metal Arts, where we teach classes and workshops in jewelry making and stone cutting techniques.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It is definitely challenging when trying to make a living as a self employed artist. Not only because income is not always consistent but the materials to make jewelry can be rather expensive.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in making handmade jewelry from silver, gold and gemstones. One of the things that set me apart from many other jewelers is that I cut and carve the majority of the stones I use myself. I was honored this year by receiving 2nd place in a jewelry design competition called the Saul Bell Design Award that has been around for 20 years.

What were you like growing up?
As a kid I was always doing things with my hands and was heavily involved in the arts all through school. I was always playing outside and collecting things, especially rocks. My mom just recently brought me some boxes that I had saved my rock collection in when I was in grade school. It is funny to now think that my career involves working with rocks on a daily basis!

Contact Info:

• Address: 625 S. Union Ave.
  Pueblo, CO 81004
• Website: ryangardnerdesigns.com
• Phone: 6145605818
• Email: ryangardnerdesigns@gmail.com
• Instagram: @ryangardnerdesigns
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ryangardnerdesigns

Image Credit:
Steve Bigley

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