drew baker

cloisonné

I find the ability to make images in glass and metal particularly compelling.  The unique ways in which light works with these materials and the relative durability of the product are very appealing.  Topics that inform and influence my work include cosmogony, semiotics, archetypes, numbers, language, science, religion, aesthetics, and more. 

I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and have lived all over the United States—in New Jersey, Arizona, California, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Illinois and Michigan.  I am currently residing in Chicago, Illinois, and Dowagiac, MI, where I teach metalwork and enameling, fabricate and repair jewelry, drive ride-share, and make art.  I began metalworking with introductory classes at Houston Community College in ‘15-’16. Subsequently I continued my education employed at a fine-jewelry casting company, Casting House GM, in Chicago for a few years.  Since then I have pursued a self-directed study of metalsmithing, jewelry design and fabrication, and cloisonné enamel works.

Drew Baker Design

…is an organic back-burner business…focusing on custom fine jewelry and repair. I work with gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones, and vitreous enamel.

I have done a small handful of commissions and have several clients who return for custom work and fine jewelry repair. I like to smelt a client’s old jewelry to forge and fabricate new pieces.

‘92-’96’ Mtn. Lakes HS, Mtn. Lakes, NJ

‘96-’97 UC Berkeley Engineering Program, Berkeley, CA/NCAA DIV 1 Swim Team

‘97-’98 Ski Bum, Salt Lake City

‘98-’00 U of Utah, General Studies, NCAA DIV 3 Swim Team

‘00-’15 So many things

15-’16 Stay-at-home Dad/Houston Community College, Houston, TX. Metalsmithing Courses

‘16-’18 Casting House, Chicago, IL. CAM technician, Bench Dept. bench training

‘18-’20 Stay-at-home dad. Self-directed cloisonné development

‘20-(Current) Rideshare Driver, Uber and Lyft

  • 7,054 total rides in three years—5.0 and 4.98 rating with Lyft and Uber respectively. 7k+ customer service experiences with almost every type and condition of person imaginable…

‘22-’23 Swedish Fish Masters Swimming Team, Coach (pool-deck), US Masters Swimming season

‘24-(Current). Lillstreet Art Center. Teacher of metalsmithing, enameling, and cloisonné

‘24-(Current) HD Design and Printing, LLC. Assistant

‘20-(Current) Drew Baker Design. Custom Fine Jewelry and Repair, Art

skills and familiar processes

silversmithing

goldsmithing

precious and semi-precious stone setting

vitreous enameling

cloisonne, champlave, plique-a-jour enameling techniques

metal: smelting, casting, forging, forming, fabricating, milling, rolling, stamping, hammering, riveting, hydraulic pressing, buffing, burnishing, polishing, high polishing, sand blasting, patinas, texturing, etching, de-sprueing, CAM for 3d printed casting, laser welding, and others

carpentry, construction, and remodeling—(expanded below)

MIG welding

attention to detail

patience

interests and hobbies

urban farming

food justice

gardening

building

music

art

architecture

human potential

social change

systemic reform

drawing

making furniture

alternative architecture

sustainable building

salvaging

swimming

walking

welding

some DIY Mandalorian armor for my son!

bakerwerks

is what I am slowly building currently—an amalgamation of many of my interests. I was able to purchase this beautiful property in Dowagiac, MI, two hours from home in the city. In that barn there I am putting my metals shop and art studio. In the field behind I will partner with some radical food folks and grow lots of great stuff! There’s an old farmhouse too, with some gorgeous features, that needs just a bit of work ...

I am self-motivated, responsible, and know about growing things and delicate processes. I know people pretty well and I have a fair amount of patience. I’ve been through enough that I know how to get through things. Life experience is something I have to offer in any role, indirectly, and I have some of it.

I am passionate about arts, crafts, metalsmithing, and I have a lot of energy for these things. I love teaching and helping people make things.

way back when…

I turned this:

into this:

remodeling and construction skills

Here is a job I did awhile ago in Salt Lake City when I thought I might get into this type of work. I had the chance to design and do most of the work involved in transformation—including fabrication of the loft stairs from salvaged steel and wood. There’s a few things i would change, today, with more experience…and I continue to use construction skills on my new project in Michigan and the occasional handyman job.

  • carpentry, rough and finish

  • wood floors

  • MIG Welding

  • plaster, textures, and sheetrock

  • painting

  • tile and cement

  • basic plumbing and electrical

  • so many construction and remodeling tasks

  • I am generally mechanically inclined

pie town, new mexico

Some land in the high mountain desert of west central New Mexico has my name on a deed for it. I signed on the dotted line when i was much younger, almost lost it but managed to pay it off, and it has been a part-time residence, retreat, and inspiration. it is so damn quiet sometimes .. and the stars ..

I have a very (very) slow home building project out there in the desert.

Recently installed a solar system (panels above in temp. position) on my tiny home (camper 🤓)

adobe build, Albuequerque, NM

  • Adobe mud—sifting, mixing, and applying

  • Adobe brick laying

  • Traditional adobe-style carpentry techniques

  • Application of modern codes in adobe structures for electrical, plumbing, etc

  • Traditional fine mud (adobe) plaster mixing and application, super fun

NEED TO FIND the ACTUAL PHYSICAL PHOTOGRAPHS/ ADOBE, HOLLYWOOD AVE

above: work in progress

below: “The Big Tie,” 2024, exhibiting soon at Romanian Jewelry Week

most important job

This is Blaise, my son.

He is 9 years old and he’ll be attending comic drawing camp at Lillstreet next week. We’re super excited!