Member of the Month: Natalie Esfahanian

Website: Salayi Designs
Instagram: Natalie Esfahanian (@salayidesigns) • Instagram photos and videos

Tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Ohio, spent some time in Boston for college before coming back to the Midwest for graduate school. After living in Ann Arbor, MI for a few years, I moved out to Southern California with my (now) husband. We lived there for 5 years before moving up to the Bay Area. I have two boys, two dogs, 4 chickens, one cat and one beehive at my Redwood City home. I love yoga, baking, gardening, and I don’t take plant spacing guidelines too seriously. I love teaching, regardless of the subject. 

What is your favorite tool and why?

My most indispensable tool is my flex shaft. I couldn’t work without it. I absolutely love sawing too though, so my Green Lion sawframe is tied for first. 

Which materials do you create with most and what is your attraction to using them?

I love working in silver. It’s the perfect color to mimic black and white botanical prints, especially when oxidized. 18k gold is a real treat to work in too and is my favorite for stone settings. 

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I love spending time outdoors, especially here in the Bay Area, where there is no humidity or mosquitoes. Tidepools along the ocean and our redwood forests are my favorite places to visit. I love copying plants, shells and other natural item’s delicate textures through casting and mold making.

How long have you been working in metals and what brought you into this field?

28 years! I took my first metalsmithing class at Interlochen Center for the Arts when I was 12. I learned to solder, saw, how tedious sanding is, casting and forming. I kept taking classes there every summer until I was able to take jewelry and metals classes at the University of Toledo during my Junior year of high school. I went to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for my BFA focusing on jewelry before continuing on to Bowling Green State University for my MFA. 

What piece of advice would you give to someone just starting out in metals?

Working with metal can be enormously tedious. I tend to get a little impatient and want to rush through some steps but slowing down and doing all of the clean-up work, sanding, polishing and really fussy soldering set-ups is always worth it. 

What has been the biggest challenge for you as a metal artist and have you overcome it, or how are you working to overcome it?

Learning how to run a business was a huge challenge and still is! I’m very much a creative type, and bookkeeping has never been my passion. I’ve had to learn how to photograph my work, build and maintain a website, design brochures and flyers, marketing, and a whole lot of other skills that never directly appealed to me but are absolutely necessary to build a business. 

Favorite resource/vendor or website

Rio Grande is my main supplier and has been since college. I also love Potter USA for dies.