<i>Jewelry Artist</i> Podcast: Robert Lopez Loves to Learn and Teach

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Right off the bat you get that Robert Lopez is a different kind of jewelry artist, even among jewelers who are different by definition. Take one look at his work and you won’t forget it. Nor will you see anything else like it.

ABOVE: Robert Lopez’s jewelry is known for being big and bold, with liberal use of fused Argentium Sterling Silver® wire, colored titanium, and cabochon gems in layered texture. All photos courtesy Robert Lopez unless otherwise noted.

Listen to Robert in the Jewelry Artist Podcast

Join host Katie Hacker for her conversation with Robert Lopez on Jewelry Artist Podcast. Listen below and step into the energetic world of this easygoing guy who turns out to be one heck of a stubborn metalsmith. Continue below to see what his jewelry looks like and how it came to be.

Q & A with Robert Lopez

Learn what Robert has found most rewarding in his jewelry artist career so far. Then find out what he’d like to do next.

Personal Bests

Robert’s Khaleesi cuff bracelet with closed clasp (above) and open (below)

MW: Of the pieces you’ve made, which is your favorite, and what do you like about it?

The Khaleesi cuff from the other side, with closed clasp at bottom

ROBERT LOPEZ: I think that’s my Khaleesi bracelet, my most difficult, time-consuming piece. It took 109 hours to finish and was an engineering nightmare! I used wood and mother-of-pearl, both of which cannot take heat or pickle, while the piece had to be soldered and fused numerous times. It has hundreds of fused components, and I used techniques I have never attempted before. I made it to be entered in the Saul Bell competition.

Besides designing and making jewelry, Robert Lopez also designs and makes jewelry making tools, such as these Stinger riveting systems.

MW: What’s the most successful piece you’ve made and how is it successful?

RL: That would be a collaboration piece I created with Francesca Watson. I had a wonderful opportunity to work with my good friend for days on end, problem solving and designing from our hearts. The piece was auctioned to raise money for family of Holly Ginsberg Gage, who were injured in a food truck explosion. It gave us great joy to be able to use our skills to raise money to help others.

Robert Lopez and Francesca Watson donated the proceeds from The Guardian benefit auction; photo: Jim Lawson — *Robert Lopez and Francesca Watson donated the proceeds from* The Guardian benefit auction; photo: Jim Lawson

What’s Next

MW: If you could study formally now, would you, and if so what would you study and with whom?

RL: At this point, I think I would love to study formally. I did not have the means or time when I first started, so I just had to learn and experiment along the way. I would jump at an opportunity to study with Andy Cooperman. Andy’s work has inspired me from day one. When I first began making jewelry, I didn’t realize that it was an actual art form until I stumbled across his work. As I scrolled through images of his jewelry, it was as if I fell down the rabbit hole and landed in Wonderland. That was the day my career as an artisan jewelry designer began. Thanks, Andy!

One of Robert’s signature looks is colored titanium, here used in a bold sunburst pattern.

MW: What do you want to teach yourself next?

RL: I think if I find some time, I would learn how to engrave. I bought an engraving system years ago, but have not found the time to learn how to actually use it properly.

Free Spirit, Regular Guy

MW: What are some of the most popular things about jewelry people want to learn from you?

Here Robert has fused Argentium wire over colored titanium.

RL: I think the things students want to learn most from me are how I frequently disregard rules and convention. It’s my free-spirited approach to designing, how I carelessly and haphazardly create something that ends up becoming both interesting and beautiful. All that, and I guess they really like how I color titanium and fuse Argentium sterling silver.

Fused balls of Argentium sterling silver wire fused to the silver plate echo the round shapes of the pearls and cabochon on this colored titanium bracelet by Robert Lopez.

MW: Besides jewelry making, what do you like to do for fun?

RL: I enjoy shooting pool, fishing, looking for useful junk, having a few beers at the local watering hole. I like meeting new people and having random conversations.

Rutilated quartz silver ring with fused wire and pearl by Robert Lopez

Merle White is Editor-in-Chief of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist.

More Heroes

On Jewelry Artist Podcast, Robert Lopez also shares his admiration for jewelry artist Michael Boyd, who is also a lapidary and expert in freeform cabochon cutting, and such unusual stone settings as saddle and strap and stone on stone. Robert’s also a big fan of jewelry artist Kit Carson whose varied work includes making jewelry with upcycled metal.