Calvinna Caswara | Metalsmith

Sunkissed Artisan

Calvinna never ceases to amaze me with the way she wholeheartedly creates. She is a metalsmith in her downtime, handcrafting silver and brass jewelry in charming Berlin, Germany. Let’s have a chat with Sunkissed Artisan!

GM: Tell us about your present creative expression(s).

CC: I’ve always loved gold and sparkles! (laughs) But to be more precise, my favourite jewelry expression is minimalistic, polished, with dainty and elegant touches, yet  powerful, brave elements like large, long, minimalistic earrings with freshwater pearls, or polished signet rings with a fine engraving. 

GM: How did you get into metalwork?

CC: Before I fell in love with metalsmithing, my husband and I tried out different creative courses in a further education college (German: Volkshochschule). They offer different language courses, cooking, and other creativite courses for adults. They are a few sessions each, as well as on a regular basis. The equipment is provided by the college or the course teacher. 

The pottery course was nice, but not really our thing because the result did not turn out as beautiful as expected (rather a surprise). So, we tried out a short metalwork course for 3-4 sessions, where we started with the basic techniques. The short course turned into a weekly course for 2 years. I loved creating my own art for myself and friends so much that I started buying tools and a workbench for my home. 

GM: What do you love about being a maker?

CC: Making something with my own hands! I love having an idea or being inspired by others, going through every step of the creation and being proud of the result. 

GM: Have you always considered yourself to be ‘creative’?

CC: Sometimes I don't feel creative. That feeling might come from being exhausted or overwhelmed by life situations. But generally, I consider myself to be creative. I also believe everyone is creative in a way. When I hear that people don't consider themselves as creative, I think it is because they just haven't been encouraged enough or don't consider their hobbies as "creative." 

Creativity (the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas) is not restricted to craftsmanship or art. Every field, for example, scientific methods and technologies, start with creative ideas, so being creative is what makes us humans so special!

GM: Who inspires you?

CC: Regarding jewelry makers (on instagram) I could watch their work forever: @melanicaseyjewelry/ @makersofmelaniecasey, @andseestudio, @ a.b.ellie, @refinedbohemia and @blackbarcjewelry. Just gorgeous and impressive.

GM: Where have you failed and continued on in your creative process?

CC: I would not call it a failure, but something I learned: In the beginning, I copied jewelry designs and thought my jewelry was not as worthy as the original because someone else had the original idea. I also did not value my jewelry very much because I am not aprofessional. Athough I worked many many hours on jewelry pieces for friends, I sold them for a very cheap price  because some friends did not want to pay so much. But, yes I did still sell a few things. 

There was a phase when I only made jewelry for friends and not for myself. I wanted to give away something that I was actually very proud of to people who do not actually value the effort of craftsmanship. Soon, I stopped producing jewelry for others and only made things for myself, learning to appreciate the beauty, progress and effort of metalsmithing again. This lesson also helped me appreciate the work of other artists much more because I could understand how much they  put into their work. Since then, I have also really loved trading self made jewelry with other self made items!

GM: What have you learned about yourself and/or life through your expression?

CC: Before I made jewelry I did not really have a style or a characteristic taste for jewelry. So making it myself let me develop a taste for what fits my appearance, what I define myself with, and what I find aesthetic. I started to make and wear larger earrings, and be more  individual and bold. There are always people who might not like how I look or what I wear, so I can express myself and enjoy my kind of beauty and self-confidence.

GM: What is something you want others to know about the creative process?

CC: Good things take time! Do not be hard on yourself and pressure yourself to make results (or post every progress on social media). It is okay to take breaks.

GM: Challenge us/ Give a creative charge.

CC: Buy something from your favourite artist and tell them why they are your favourite! Or leave your top 5 creative businesses a good review! 

GM: How can we follow what you’re doing?

 CC: You can follow me on instagram: @sunkissedartisan. Just in case you wonder why I rarely post, I will probably  be more active in the winter again, right now I rather enjoy other activities outside.