In this episode of Slowmade, I’m joined by jewelry artist Dawna Gillespie, whose work is rooted in personal story, persistence, and a strong sense of artistic identity.

Dawna shares how she discovered metalsmithing almost by accident during her final semester at Texas Tech and immediately felt a connection to the process that she had never experienced with painting. After becoming a stay-at-home mom, she eventually found her way back to jewelry and began building a creative practice alongside family life.

We talk about how Dawna developed the visual language behind her work using a small group of shapes and motifs that represent pieces of her own story, and how she continues to manipulate those forms into completely one-of-a-kind adornments. She also shares why copper and brass became such important materials in her work, particularly because of the way they naturally change and develop character over time.

Dawna is wonderfully candid about the less glamorous parts of building a creative career too. She talks about being told early on that she was a “nobody,” learning to listen for the useful parts of difficult feedback, being waitlisted for exhibitions, hearing no from publications, and continuing to put herself and her work forward anyway. For Dawna, perseverance doesn’t mean forcing a particular timeline. It means continuing to grow, staying open to what can be improved, and trusting that a no today doesn’t necessarily mean no forever.

We also talk about comparison, feeling behind, the importance of setting goals without becoming rigid about them, what the creative process gives back to us, and why she believes the stories and experiences we carry are worthy of being expressed through our work.

Dawna’s reminder is a simple but powerful one: don’t be afraid to ask. If you never ask, the answer is already no.

Follow Dawna...

Instagram: @dawna_gillespie_adornments

Website: dawnagillespie.com

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Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠

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