Samuel LaFountain is adaptable, which is probably one of those clutch artist characteristics that no one else really talks about. He can work in many different styles, with many different stones, and he can use techniques as varied as repoussé, fabrication, tufa casting and so much more. He can also go from traditional to contemporary at ease.
Morenci Tufa-Cast Bolo, hand-carved tufa stone, hand-braided leather and sterling silver, 3¼ x 2½ x 1¼"
“Living in Santa Fe, I have access to all the traditional, Navajo-style jewelry. But as I’ve been traveling, I’ve been seeing influences all over, which made me get inspired by the contemporary side of jewelry,” LaFountain says. “Lately, I’ve been seeing architectural influences but also organic shapes and designs. My dad was a stone carver, a contemporary stone carver, so I like looking at forms and seeing what I could replicate from him.”
Another influence is the desert itself. “My environment plays a huge role. The desert Southwest has a lot of design that is remarkable to me. I’ve been using cuttlebone recently, and it reminds me of ripples in a desert wash.”
Cuttlebone Bracelet, tufa and cuttlebone casted, hand textured, sterling silver, Mediterranean red coral and oxidized, 2¼ x 3 x 2¾"
Lapis Bracelet, repoussé, hand-stamped, sterling silver and lapis, 2¼ x 2¾ x 1¾"
LaFountain shows his work at many of the big markets and recently returned from a successful Cherokee Art Market. He also works with the artisan program at the Palace of the Governors, which he sees as a great educational opportunity. “Me and the other artists are out there educating the public about the arts,” he says. “There are potters, sand painters, other jewelers—the whole spectrum of the Southwest. I enjoy helping people learn about the arts.”
See more of LaFountain’s work at Instagram (@samuellafountain)
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