Steve Taylor

Born in Texas and raised in Colorado, Steve Taylor arrived in Santa Fe in 1979 with $75 in his pocket and a determination to succeed. As a child he spent a great deal of time camping and taking trips to remote mountain places where he became fascinated with rocks and minerals. When his dad bought a lapidary unit he began cutting stones and thought at first that it was what he wanted to do. But when he began fiddling with silver, he found his style.

Entirely self-taught, Steve worked a variety of jobs before settling in to his commitment to earn a living with his art. Unlike any other silversmith, Steve uses round silver wire, straightens it and then solders it together to make blocks or sheets of different sizes. He then cuts the wire blocks and sets up designs and patterns. The result is a slightly "domed" piece which reacts differently to light, and creates more designs with the shadows.

A self-described loner, Steve loves the creative process and can spend days at a time devoted to a single project. "Every once in a while, after I finish a piece, " he says, " I'll set it up on a bench and say to myself "you really did make that,' and it feels great. When someone else appreciates and praises my work, it's incredibly gratifying."