Meet Jessica Paige Considine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Paige Considine. 

Hi Jessica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story with metal starts with jewelry-making courses in high school. I thrived in this atmosphere of creating jewelry with non-precious metals. After high school, I pursued bench jeweler jobs but found they required a degree or years of apprenticeship experience. I had none of these requirements, but being tenacious, I found my way into a jewelry store that had Mastercraft jewelers on-site. I started as a cashier and worked my way into an apprenticeship with the jewelers where I learned how to repair and create jewelry with precious metals. Simultaneously, I was creating jewelry for myself and attending my local community college. In 2016, I started my business, Sculpted Roots, where I made and sold jewelry out of a workshop in my basement. During this time, my high school jewelry teacher reached out and recommended that I take metal sculpting classes at Schoolcraft College. Metal sculpting classes opened my eyes to a whole new world of metal crafting. I fell in love with creating large-scale metal sculptures and desired the skills needed to create fine art. As I was drawn to welding and fabrication, my fascination with metal grew deeper. I decided to pursue my Associates’ Degree in Welding, Certificates in Metal Sculpting and Metal Fabrication, and multiple AWS Welding Certifications. After this, I started creating and selling metal sculptures at local art fairs and online. I have been featured in several news segments for my art and have competed in metal sculpting competitions. Currently, I am a custom fabricator/welder for a job shop company in Detroit. I have been in this position for two years. As their main fabricator/welder, I am constantly advancing my skills. I work with all different types of fabricating machinery including CNC plasma, CNC brake press, CNC Bridgeport mill, lathe, and tube bending machines. I love what I do and I do what I love. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Throughout my journey into becoming a professional craftswoman I have had an incredible support system within my family, friends, and organizations. Although, most of my struggles were endured while I pursued my higher education. A main struggle of mine was finding maturity as I transitioned from an adult teenager to professional craftswoman. I had to establish boundaries in my interactions with my peers and mentors while I developed my skills as a certified welder and fine art creator. As a young female in training, I looked for validation in my mentors that I was capable of being a fine artist and an expert welder. As I built up my confidence and focus I slowly learned that my validation was determined by me. I found passion, drive, and grace within my failures. These struggles and failures helped me find the right support system I needed to help me grow and succeed as a young woman in the trades. As I stepped out of my educational experiences I had the poise and skill set to be accepted in the world as a career-driven individual that I am. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an AWS certified welder, metal fabricator, and metal sculptor. I created my business Sculpted Roots so that I could showcase and sell metal art that I make. I am also employed as a custom fabricator/welder at a job shop company in Detroit. I work with several different types of metal and welding processes. The main welding processes I use are GTAW, GMAW-S, and GMAW aluminum. I work with aluminum, mild steel, stainless steel, and copper. Other welding processes I use in my metal sculptures are TIG brazing and soldering. I love making functional and decorative metal art. My art is inspired by mandalas, symmetry, balance, and spiritualism. Most of my art is made from refurbished metal such as; bicycle wheels, oxygen scuba diving tanks, brake rotors, and just about anything I can find at the scrap yard. I pride myself in the fact that I turn refurbished metal into fine decorative/functional art pieces. My painting methods consist of powder coating, spray-painting, heat-treating copper, and patinating copper. My metal sculptures are painted with unique bold colors that stand out and catch the eyes of many. 

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me in my art is making personal connections with my customers, supporters, and admirers. I put my heart, soul, and hard work into every piece I make. My art is me and I am my art. Having this deep connection to my art allows me to create relationships with others through conversations about my creativity, passions, and skills. 

Contact Info:

• Email: jessicapconsidine@gmail.com
• Website: www.sculptedroots.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sculptedroots/

Image Credits:
Ramie Haddad