Veteran Artist Spotlight: Jazz Barkshadt
From First Weld to Amazing Metal Sculptures
One of the most rewarding parts of what we do at the Van Doren Metal Art Workshop isn’t just teaching people how to weld, cut, shape, and create. It’s watching what happens after that first spark.
Every year, hundreds of people walk through our doors. In fact, more than 95% of them have never touched a welder before. They arrive curious, excited, maybe a little nervous, and often convinced that metal art is something reserved for professional artists or experienced fabricators.
Then something remarkable happens.
They discover that creativity isn’t about prior experience. It’s about giving yourself permission to try.
For many, the workshop becomes far more than a one- or two-day experience. It becomes a creative outlet, a source of confidence, a new passion, and in some cases, a life-changing artistic journey. What begins as a bucket-list activity often grows into something much deeper—a creative practice, a community, and a meaningful part of a person’s life.
That’s why we’re launching our new Veteran Artist Spotlight series. Each month we’ll highlight a member of our workshop family whose artistic journey demonstrates what’s possible when creativity, curiosity, and community come together.
This month we’re thrilled to feature Jazz Barkshadt, a talented artist whose evolution from first-time workshop participant to commissioned sculptor is an inspiring reminder that artistic growth has no limits.
Today, Jazz is in the process of continuing to create a large series of amazing metal sculptures for a private event space near San Miguel de Allende. Yet like so many of our artists, her journey started with simply showing up, trying something new, and falling in love with the medium.
Looking Back: The Journey From First Project to Today
Looking back at your very first project in the workshop and comparing it to the work you’re creating today, how has your artistic journey evolved, and what has surprised you most about your growth as a metal artist?
“It has been a mind-blowing journey of challenging myself to create something different each time I come into the workshop.”
Jazz’s artistic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Animation and Digital Art, but her passion for sculpture led her to seek something beyond a computer screen.
“In the middle of studying my major in university, I realized that I did not want to be confined to a chair in front of a computer screen for the rest of my working life. When I came to the Metal Art Workshop for the first time, it was a way for me to play and experiment with new materials for sculpting.”
Reflecting on her growth, Jazz sees a journey that has connected both her younger and future self.
“From where I started to where I am now, I look back and know that both my 8-year-old self and my 80-year-old self are awed and satisfied with what I am doing today—and both of them can’t wait to see what I make next.”
Turning Inspiration Into Metal
Can you walk us through your creative process when designing a new piece? Where do your ideas come from, and how do you transform inspiration into metal artwork?
For Jazz, every project begins with imagination.
“My process now is sketching and mood boards first. Measurements and calculations are usually made on the fly depending on the needs of the project.”
She laughs that she sculpts better than she draws, and many of her initial sketches evolve dramatically once metal enters the equation.
“A lot of my scribbles get turned into something tangible and decent based on a curious combination of precise measurements, feeling, intuition, doing the work, and feedback from both Alex and Gabino.”
Her current body of work is deeply connected to intention, mindfulness, and positive energy.
“The inspiration for the work I’m doing now is that I have 25 commissioned sculptures for an event space near San Miguel de Allende, and they are all meditation hand mudras.”
Each piece is designed to contribute something meaningful to the space and the people who encounter it.
“I focus on the ones that feel positive for the space, and the intention behind them is creating positive energy for whoever visits and encounters the pieces.”
At the moment, Jazz is completing the third sculpture in the series, a piece titled Abundance Lotus.
The Power of Creative Community
You’ve become an important part of our workshop community. What keeps bringing you back, and what do you love most about creating art alongside other artists in the Van Doren Metal Art Workshop?
Without hesitation, Jazz points to the people.
“What keeps bringing me back to the workshop is the community itself.”
She describes an environmental where people of every experience level come together to learn, experiment, and support one another.
“From the mentor (Alex) to the people who seek out the workshop as an experience, I love the creative ambience that is prevalent, and every workshop is different.”
One of her favorite aspects has been meeting people she never otherwise would have crossed paths with.
“I’ve loved meeting people from many walks of life that I would not have been able to meet otherwise.”
Watching others discover their own creative abilities continues to inspire her own growth.
“Seeing people learn and then create amazing metal art has been fuel for me as an artist to challenge myself and do something better—and bigger—with each piece.”
After years of creating, learning, and growing alongside fellow artists, the workshop has become something much deeper than a place to make art.
“Metal Art has become a place where I hang my hat—or should I say, my welding mask? Metal Art has become home to me and a huge part of my identity as an artist.”
Your Journey Starts With One Spark
Jazz’s story reminds us that every artistic journey simply begins with curiosity and a willingness to try something new.
The overwhelming majority of people who attend our workshops arrive with no metalworking experience whatsoever. Yet year after year, we watch people discover abilities they never knew they had. Some create a single piece and check a lifelong dream off their bucket list. Others find a passion that becomes a lasting part of their lives.
People like Jazz show us that creativity isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s something available to anyone willing to pick up a welding mask and see where the journey leads.
Whether you’ve been thinking about taking a workshop for years or you’ve only recently discovered metal art, there’s never been a better time to join our growing creative community.
Who knows?
Your first project might just be the beginning of a journey that surprises you too.
Interested in experiencing metal art for yourself? Join us at the Van Doren Metal Art Workshop in San Miguel de Allende and discover why so many people are falling in love with the art of creating with metal.
