Meet Lindsey Johnson | Jewelry Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lindsey Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lindsey, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have always enjoyed artistic endeavors but never considered them an actual career path for myself. I went to school for and am trained as a Geologist and have worked in that industry for 8 years. After being laid off and finding the successive job roles uninspiring, I decided to make a go of my small jewelry business; to get in there and really give it a good try. Once I realized that advertising actually worked and I started making more sales than ever, I decided to continue with it and see if I could really make a living through my work. It’s been tough and slow and there are some months that I wonder if I’ll need to get another “real” job, but this job is so fun and interesting and makes me want to get out of bed in the morning.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My new work is about being unexpected and diverting from what is currently popular while still being relevant and beautiful. Ultimately, the creation of jewelry and the wearing of jewelry is about adornment and beauty and expressing yourself to the world through what you wear.

Lately I’ve been exploring geometry and how different shapes can fit together to create an interesting piece. To elevate the design, I like to tuck small stones into crevices and texture the surface of the silver using a variety of techniques. Another thing I’ve been interested in is reworking scraps and cut-offs of silver by reticulating, or nearly melting, the silver to give it texture, then adding stones or other pieces of silver to create a completely one-of-a-kind piece that cannot be replicated. I’m always looking for something different, something that stands out and is unanticipated.

As a geologist who was finding working in the corporate arena slightly unbearable, I decided to see what I could make of this business. It has been hard for me to be loose and artistic and creative because I was trained and taught as a scientist; to look at things logically and leave emotion out. Thus, it’s been tough to navigate the world of small business and marketing when all I want to do is make jewelry. Without any formal training in business, and mostly being an introvert, it has been an adventure to learn all about marketing, online presence, and getting your work to the masses. There are some months that I wonder if I’ll need to get another corporate job, but this job is so fun and interesting that I can’t wait to get out of bed in the morning.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would probably take them to a few museums like the MFAH or HMNS. Brazos State park is great for taking a walk in nature. We would definitely go to The Arboretum and walk those grounds because they are such a nice respite from the city. Depending on the weekend and what was playing, we’d catch a show or two at Jones Hall or the Wortham. I appreciate all the art and culture events that Houston has to offer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mom and my husband are my biggest supporters. They help me with art shows, they have helped fund various aspects of my business, and they always encourage me when I’m feeling down about myself or my business and feel like no one cares about what I’m doing. If it weren’t for them, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be doing this at all.

Website: SweetOliveStudios.etsy.com

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