Meet Our Artists!
Steve Johnson
The dreams of a lifetime often take a lifetime of dreaming to accomplish. That’s where this final draft of a life dream came from.
Steve Johnson began his journey into the world of jewelry creation at the age of 22. Having acquired a jewelry store for a nominal price, he discovered that the only individual in the store who was making a wage was the goldsmith working in the shop. With some lightening fast mental calculations, Steve surmised that if he wanted to earn a wage he needed the skills of the goldsmith added to his tool box.
He contacted a friend of his, Jean-Paul Holt, who was a Master Jeweler and requested some instruction. It was agreed that he would work In JP’s shop on jewelry he would bring from his own jewelry store. Performing the work and learning the trade while earning enough money from the work to pay Jean-Paul for his instruction. It became an old world style apprenticeship with work being traded back and forth between the two and Steve’s skill level grew exponentially over the years as his gifts began to manifest themselves.
One morning, as he arrived at the shop where he had worked and studied for the last couple of years, Jean-Paul stopped him from unpacking his tools. Steve was alarmed by his friends actions not being able to imagine what could have brought about such a dramatic change when JP explained that there was no longer any need for instruction. He was fully capable of providing any service needed in the world of jewelers and should just continue his studies in his own.
As time passed Steve did indeed prove to be equal to any task in jewelry that was set before him. In those early he was commissioned by the Heiress to the Kimberly Diamond Mine to create some unique pieces including a Star Ruby ring with a 12ct. ruby in the center and a number of beautiful diamonds surrounding it. During that time he was also afforded the opportunity to create a ring for a Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. As well as, pieces for two of the Portland Trail Blazers.
As time went on Steve and his good friend John Pia entered the world of wholesale repair and design. In the Portland and Seattle areas they had two shops with a total of 15 goldsmiths working for them and together they did the repairs for 60 stores from Medford Oregon to Bellingham Washington.
Prior to that undertaking, another of Steve’s talents emerged into the light. Clients for major retail jewelers in the Portland area discovered Steve’s ability to find and fulfill their style preferences and tastes in order to create perfect one-of-a-kind creations reflecting their unique hidden desires.
Sedarah Metin
Say hello to Sedarah, an integral part of the Gem Source team and one of our go-to artisans for custom wax carving, especially for those unforgettable wedding sets! Sedarah brings an incredible blend of creative vision and meticulous precision to every piece. She’s been practicing her craft for about three years and her favorite part of the process is connecting with fascinating new people and hearing their stories, especially when it comes to the profound meaning behind a wedding set or cherished heirloom.
Sedarah describes her style as eclectic, loving to incorporate a variety of elements into her work. She excels at deciphering a customer's true desires, even when they're unsure how to articulate them, and thrives on the challenge of bringing those visions to fruition. Her passion lies in creating symmetrical designs, where every line aligns perfectly, and she finds inspiration primarily in personal stories, transforming relationships into tangible form and aesthetic.
One project that stands out for Sedarah was a challenging custom wedding set featuring intricate organic, asymmetrical elements. Despite being outside her usual comfort zone, the final piece was a beautiful success, cherished by the client. She loves how forgiving wax can be, allowing for creative freedom and easy corrections.
As a proud Medford native, she values the opportunity to work with and tell the stories of those she's known her whole life. She believes that collaborating with fellow local artisans, like Steve the Goldsmith and the jewelers he takes under his wing, significantly enhances her own craft and the overall customer experience by pooling collective knowledge and expertise. For her, the ultimate benefit of choosing a custom, locally crafted piece from Gem Source is the unparalleled story and connection it offers – something mass-produced items simply can't replicate.
Beyond jewelry, Sedarah is a true creative soul, dedicating her free time to organic sculpture, painting, and crafting in general! She shares, "I think love is the most important thing in anyone’s life and my biggest drive is seeing the love that goes into their stories. I want to hear about the secrets behind their love and connections."
Nathan Alvis
Aho, get to know this fellow and his flow! Say hello to the creative force of Psych0metrik Designs, the incredibly thoughtful and creative multi-faceted artist and silversmith who brings so much magic to Gem Source! His journey into jewelry making began about 13 years ago, finding solace and focus in wire wrapping during a challenging time.
Since then, his passion has blossomed and he eventually landed himself an apprenticeship in Bend, OR learning the ins and outs of lost wax casting under master goldsmith Waylon Rhoades with Waylon Rhoades Jewelry. He also took this opportunity to explore the different facets of fabrication, and fusing different elements and styles together artistically with one of a kind hybrid creations.
While spending years honing in his skills and fine tuning his craft, he eventually landed in Southern Oregon where he connected with Steve and started his goldsmith apprenticeship at Quikfix. He also explored some jewelry classes at Rogue Community College. Nathan is now a resident artisan jeweler at Gem Source, where he continues to expand his skills and bring unique ideas to life, while sparking creative inspiration in the workspace.
Inspiration for his designs is Divinely channeled via nature, life experiences, and the beauty of balanced symmetry and geometry. Specializing in sentimental cremation ashes memorial pendants, a particularly rewarding project was creating a custom memorial piece for his partner – a challenging yet deeply emotional endeavor that ensured the piece was as perfect as it deserved to be. He considers this piece to be the epitome of his 13 year career.
Psych0metrik Designs believes that any creative pursuit sparks inspiration in others, and he feels supported by the vibrant artistic community in Medford. He emphasizes that the biggest advantage of choosing a custom, locally crafted piece from Gem Source is the integration of personal story and connection, weaving together the customer's and artist's creative visions.
You can view all his creative endeavors @ PSY [Passionate Sophisticated Youth] - Art & Jewelry Design, Music & Events, Art and Design
Jordan Sallee
Meet the incredible talent behind Radiance Smithing, a key partner in bringing your custom jewelry dreams to life! Since 2020, he's been immersed in the world of jewelry, driven by a fascination with the stories and emotional weight that each piece carries.
Radiance Smithing defines an artisan as a fusion of artist and craftsman. His unique approach involves deeply understanding a client's vision and then allowing the materials to guide the collaborative process. He's a big proponent of CAD/CAM techniques for their precision and ability to create truly custom designs, and he's a master at delicate repairs with his laser welder. You might be surprised to know that outside of the studio, he's dedicated to bodybuilding and daily meditation!
His creative spark often comes from personal stories and geometric patterns, finding profound connections between mathematical ratios and human experiences. One of his most rewarding projects involved crafting a set of rings that physically represented musical notes associated with a family's children – a true testament to the power of jewelry to tell a story. He believes the biggest advantage of choosing a locally crafted piece is the connection it fosters, bridging the gap between a customer's personal story and the artisan's journey.
For Radiance Smithing, collaborating with Gem Source and other local artisans in Medford is all about bridging gaps in skill and experience, ultimately enhancing the custom experience for every customer. He believes that choosing a locally crafted piece offers an unparalleled connection, a welcome contrast to the often impersonal world of mass-produced jewelry.
You can follow his work @ https://www.instagram.com/radiancesmithing
Evan Zevchik
Get to know Evan Zevchik, our incredible fabricator and wire wrapping specialist, whose attention to detail brings so many unique pieces to life! Evan's journey into jewelry began about eight years ago, sparked by a trip to Georgia for a crystal and the inspiring creations he saw at music festivals. His passion has been fueled ever since by the amazing feedback and support he's received for his work.
For Evan, being an artisan means creating truly one-of-a-kind pieces, a stark contrast to mass-produced jewelry. His distinct style beautifully blends hard lines with organic forms, drawing inspiration from both nature and the intricate geometry of the universe. He particularly loves selecting stones and letting the materials guide his creative process, truly following the "story" of each unique gem. In fact, finding stones himself and connecting with the source of his materials brings him a deep, holistic satisfaction!
When you commission a piece with Evan, it's a collaborative process where your ideas meet his expertise, pushing the boundaries of both your visions. He finds his craft to be a form of meditation, a calm and focused "zen space." His inspiration comes from the patterns in nature, the history of environments he explores, and the fascinating geometry of crystalline structures. A truly rewarding project for him was creating a matching set of jewelry for his partner, pieces imbued with deep emotional significance.
Evan believes that choosing a custom, locally crafted piece from Gem Source means so much more than its material worth. "It becomes a priceless heirloom with a rich history behind it, full of attention to detail and care," he says.
Kiya Cameron
Say hello to Urban Goblin, the imaginative mind and skilled 3D modeling artist we rely on to bring custom jewelry pieces to life at Gem Source! Her journey into the craft began in 2022 after attending a gem and rock show and finding inspiration in a goldsmith's fabrication classes.
For Urban Goblin, being an artisan is about embracing her natural self and allowing that to flow into her creations. She loves the entire process of jewelry making, from start to finish, and finds particular joy in seeing a piece freshly cast or fabricated, imagining the final steps to perfection. She's especially passionate about working with stones, whether it's carving them or meticulously cutting seats for their unique placement in a design.
When a customer comes to her with an idea, Urban Goblin's goal is to fully understand their vision, even if it's a loose concept, to ensure the final piece is exactly what they're dreaming of. She aims to help clients realize that anything is possible! While the process might look seamless from the outside, she finds it fascinating how easily things can go awry and the complex story behind every "perfect" piece. Her personal inspiration often comes from nature, but for custom projects, she's driven by the initial idea itself, letting it guide her creative direction.
A challenging yet incredibly rewarding project involved recreating a bark-shaped ring. She carved it from wax, cast it, set new stones, and meticulously finished it, including resizing it multiple times—a true testament to her dedication! Urban Goblin believes that a custom, locally crafted piece offers far more than a mass-produced item; it provides personalization and easier repairs, fostering a stronger connection with the artisans who can help maintain it.
Follow her work @ https://www.instagram.com/urban.g0blin
