Conversations with Erik Buckley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Buckley.

Hi Erik, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I had my first dip into the jewelry-making world during my first year of high school art class, where we had three weeks of instruction on different techniques of working with metal. About half of that time was focused on fabrication and basic silversmithing, a craft that fully captivated my interest as we learned to turn silver sheets and wires into wearable jewelry. 

I delved deeper into it, learning by way of experimentation in my parent’s garage for a few years, then eventually landing myself in a position at a local jewelry tool and supply shop. This role allowed me to learn so many of the ins and outs of making jewelry, as I was working with and helping a wide variety of people in the industry, including fellow novices with issues that I could directly relate to, as well as seasoned industry veterans with higher level problems. With the help of my mentor, an incredibly knowledgeable artist who took me under her wing, I was able to gather so much deep and useful insight across such a breadth of topics. This was my sampling period. 

A couple years ago, once I gained confidence in my proficiency in the craft and the time felt right, I jumped to focus solely on developing my jewelry business. After starting with pop-up markets, I now have a store of my own in the heart of downtown Tucson, where I’m grateful to get to share my art with locals and visitors alike. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My path up to this point has not been the smoothest, but it’s been a constant learning experience. Beginning in my parents’ garage with only a couple weeks of prior instruction left me learning almost exclusively by way of failed attempts. It took a while to accept that creation and creative failures or mishaps go hand-in-hand. 

After having figured that out, many of the speed bumps along my way have been due to personal and societal pressures. I spent a solid decade with the creation and business side of jewelry always on the back burner while I attempted to focus on endeavors like college that society told me I needed to pursue. This pressure to fit into what I was “supposed to do” weighed heavily on me. Timing-wise, this coincided with the period in my craft during which I was creating work that was nowhere near the quality of construction and design that I was dreaming up; in other words, my skill had to catch up to my taste. Much of the creative process felt good, but the results often felt inadequate. 

The internal criticisms I had of myself and of my work dragged me down despite praise and reassurance from others. Where others found beauty and accomplishment in me and my work, my mind had me picking apart and tearing down compliments– invalidating them because I hadn’t convinced myself of the same. That has been one of my biggest personal struggles: finding value in myself when I find reasons for critique in my creations. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m primarily a silversmith (and occasionally a goldsmith), which means that I manipulate precious metals like silver and gold using tools like files, hammers, saws, and torches. Starting from simple sheets, bars, and wires, I craft them into jewelry and personal adornments. I’m also a lapidary artist, cutting stones by hand, using diamond saws, grinding wheels, and polishes to turn a rock into a polished gemstone. 

My current specialties are in silver and turquoise, especially little handcrafted desert mountain scenes with sculpted saguaros, all soldered in sterling silver. Shorthand, for some people, has also apparently turned me into “The Turquoise Guy” to at least a handful of people, which I think is pretty neat. 

My biggest point of pride is probably in my desert landscapes, especially a large necklace I made that depicts a full Sonoran Desert monsoon scene. I worked on it for over 30 hours over the course of a couple months, painstakingly crafting each raindrop-shaped link of the chain, carving and texturing mountains, saguaros, a blooming yucca, 3-dimensional rainclouds, and a 14-karat gold lightning bolt. It actually managed to bring back a Third-Place ribbon at an art competition recently, which was a lovely bit of validation. 

I try to set my work apart from others by focusing intensely on the quality of my work, both in design and construction. Because I want to make something that will look amazing tomorrow or twenty years from tomorrow, I strive to make pieces that are designed beautifully and crafted expertly. 

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
For creative people doing creative things, my main advice is to keep creating as long as either the product or the process is enjoyable. And then keep creating if the results aren’t where you want them. Creative endeavors aren’t often linear. Plateaus and steps backwards are a normal part of the process. If you can gain insight from failed attempts, then failure can become an informative step in the learning process. Patience and persistence are the keys to progress. 

I wish I had also known about the abundance of resources available to those learning new crafts. There are countless books, local clubs related to most types of creating, as well as classes offered by Parks and Recreation departments, art stores, museums, and now countless online resources to top it all off. 

Contact Info:

• Website: ENBJewelry.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/enb_jewelry