Meet Brian Taylor | Jeweler & Artist

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

Hi Brian, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My process began during Covid 19. Newly laid off, I had the idea I would start a shop to create and weld large abstract and functional items (chairs, sculptures, etc). I had a background in coal mining and machining from years prior, which gave me a host of metal-working skills. Winter hit before I could build a safe ventilation system, which would involve knocking out a window or wall in my garage. I was itching to make things at this point, so I went smaller. I began with clay sculpting and by chance started working with resin. I made a silicone mold and made my first (ugly) ring. Then some pendants (less ugly). A new passion was born. I realized I could combine my sculpting, metalworking, welding, graphic design, and drawing skills in making jewelry! But…. Covid. This gave me loads of time to read, take free online courses, study, practice and make. I came roaring out of the pandemic. Well, sort of. My heart was roaring, but I had much to learn to find my niche and follow MY vision of the business. As I began growing as a competent metalsmith, I added the component of individually naming pieces and jewelry lines and writing mythologies for them. A colleague told me it was a cool concept but would never work. I was so inspired by this new addition to my work, that I knew it was the direction I must pursue. It also differentiated me from anyone I had heard of.

After a couple of years of modest success, I began looking to rebuild a business plan that included a brick and mortar. I sought help from various sources and ended up with an excellent mentor provided by The Urban League. After seeing that it was indeed within my budgetary grasp to acquire a storefront, things started falling into place, including finding a wonderful space in Historic Glendale that was close to home and high on my list of choices. But it was in the process of being leased. When that lease fell through, I jumped at the opportunity and a new chapter is being written.

Sidenote: After the pandemic I returned to work as VP of publishing for a regional Spanish-language media company and continue to work in that capacity while expanding my own project.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My pieces — primarily made of silver, gold, copper and brass — are inspired by science fiction, fantasy and mythologies worldwide. Each item has its own unique name and origin story, written and illustrated onto laser-engraved metal cards that accompany it. I create these piece by forging, casting, wire wrapping; often in combination. Many of the pieces – through their fictional origin stories – indirectly explore important social justice themes, from racism and sexism to equality for all human beings and justice. People should be able to see something of themselves AND the experience of others through my work. To boot, there isn’t much fine jewelry out there for lovers of the genres mentioned above.
The time invested, the passion for the art form and being in a stable economic position are big factors in where I stand today. TIME…. During the pandemic, I would spend HOURS every day (anywhere between 8-14) working on my craft. Reading books on gemology; taking every online jewelry-making class I could find (many were offered for free during the pandemic); and practicing. Imagine a student who works for 2-5 hours a day. They will improve over time. Doubling and tripling that time invested will exponentially accelerate skill sets. PASSION…. I loved art as a child. As I grew older I got increasingly active as an organizer for social justice in the streets. I left art behind for the most part. Making jewelry reawakened that love and I refused to let it go, whatever form it took. FINANCES…. Through a series of fortunate turns I grew into a publisher for a media company. I pride myself in maintaining a high level of professionalism in that capacity. That commitment has put me in a position to not stress over my next meal. Like some others who live in America, I am several months away from catastrophe if I lost employment. But that’s enough breathing room to manuever. This road was not easy. Neither can I say it was hard. A lifetime of struggle, hardship, perseverance, discipline, failure and success primed me for these opportunities. Steeled me to face challenges. My goto motivational mantra to myself when things get hard is, “no one else is going to resolve this. YOU have to do it. So what if you don’t know how. Learn. Overcome. Then, when the moment allows, pass what you’ve learned on.
What do I want people to know about my brand and story. My motto has always been “Be many things.” In my life I have been a machinist, a coal miner, a railroad conductor, a dock worker, and airline worker, a published journalist, a graphic designer, and editor, and now…. finally…. an artist. Try new things, explore your curiosities, and know that you don’t have to be good or the best at everything you try. Live life and think like you are 90 years old but got to go back to relive your current age.

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.
We would have to explore some eateries. Monday: Kayaking with my dogs followed by Korean BBQ at K Town BBQ & Hotpot
Tuesday: Lucius Q in Pendleton,
Wednesday: Knockback Nats downtown, pick up basketball at LeBlond Recreation Center, visit to the Peaslee Center (a community organizing hub) and the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition.
Thursday: Pickel ball in the morning, Camp Washington Chili for lunch. Motorcycle ride on Rt. 50 going way out East, then come back and hit Smoke Justis in Covington,
Friday: Glendale Brewery — a new find for me — with tasty pizza and the most chill, hangout environment.
I try to stay away from sweets, but we would have to hit Servatii.
Saturday: Poker party at my place. Food, games, a cross section of people. A good time.
On Sunday we would have to go and have dinner at my good friends Terrance and Jessica’s house. Jessica is an excellent cook at the owner of Beyond Grain Bakery. T is no slouch in the kitchen either. But this is not primarily about the food. These dinner parties are always brimming with people from different walks of life. The openness, comradery and civility as we bounce from heavy politics to complete silliness are irreplaceable.
If weather permits we would go kayaking and play 18 holes at one of the many public courses in Cincinnati.
We would squeeze in a UC or Xavier women’s hoop game.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Many shoutouts need to be made.

My family and so many of my friends encouraged me along my maker’s journey. Some bought items. Others gave me useful critiques about my work. Still others helped me push through the wall of imposter syndrome, which still lingers on the edges of my mind.

I want to shoutout those people who organize maker events around the city: Art on Vine, Crafty Supermarket, Vinoklet Winery’s art and music event, Market Bleu at the Contemporary Art Museum, The O.F.F. Market, Pyramid Hill’s annual art and music event, City Flea at Washington Park, and so many other “shows” as we call them that allowed me to showcase my goods and thereby gauge public interest.

Shoutout to The Urban League for connecting me with a former jeweler and business professional.
Shoutout to the many writers, directors and storytellers who stoked my passion for science fiction, fantasy and mythology.

I have to thank the women and men who opened my eyes to the true history of humanity’s fight for equality and justice around the world. This has greatly shaped who I am and the choices I have made.

In an odd way, I have to shoutout COVID. In its destructive and callous wake, those of us who survived had time and space to think, to read, to study, and to be. That rare commodity of time — in a world of constant noise, work and scant rest — is a key ingredient of art and self-reflection.

Website: www.imgbat.com

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Image Credits
Brian Taylor