Amazing Custom Jewelry Designs by Darryl Dean Begay

An award-winning Navajo jewelry artist, Darryl Dean Begay received the prestigious and highly coveted Best of Show award during the 88^th annual Santa Fe Indian Market along with his wife Rebecca. Since then, the couple’s jewelry making career blossomed, making them true leaders in the industry. Darryl has successfully made his own niche in the jewelry making and Native American art scene, thanks to his unique styles and designs.

His work is rich in Navajo cultural inspirations and all his pieces are handmade using skills that he has developed through years of learning, and techniques that are very much his own. Having trained under world renowned masters of the craft, (Begay learned the ins and outs of tufa casting from uncle, Bobby Begay and stone inlaying from Raymond Yazzie) it is no surprise that Begay is highly respected in the Navajo jewelry scene. His unique technique combines tufa casting and his incredible use of lapidary inlay and fabrication. This interesting marriage of two innovative working styles has brought him the recognition that his pieces so richly deserve. Begay’s pieces are widely sought after across the globe for their exceptional quality and innate beauty.

Darryl Dean Begay creates one design at a time, giving his undivided attention to each creation. He and wife Rebecca only use top grade materials to ensure the quality of each finished product. He has excellent knowledge of gemstones, particularly turquoise, and uses the things he learned from the masters along with his own unique techniques and styles to create the most exciting designer pieces you will see in the market. Also evident in his pieces is his strong dedication to the Navajo culture. Each piece reflects his deep desire to preserve cultural traditions. His work also uses precious gems and sacred stones, which he believes give his pieces positive energy.

Aaron Anderson the Artist with Traditional Ideals and Contemporary Style

A third generation Navajo jewelry artist, Aaron Anderson is widely recognized as a master of tufa casting in the Native American jewelry art community. Born and raised in Gallup, New Mexico, where he still lives and practices his craft. Anderson creates some of the most highly valued pieces in the market today. Art collectors as well as fellow artists all around the world seek his pieces for their impressive quality and individuality.

Specializing in the highly regarded technique known as tufa casting, every piece Anderson makes is guaranteed unique and one of a kind. Each cast piece is meticulously hand carved to ensure design quality. The carved tufa blocks used as cast for each jewelry piece can only be used once, making everything Anderson makes completely unique. Even when he does make copies of his original designs, Anderson makes sure to include something that would indicate that the piece is not identical. The artist also insists that his designs are always limited edition.

With a deep understanding of the tufa casting technique, Anderson creates stunning pieces that combine elements from his Christian faith along with some traditional designs from his Native American roots. When asked about stories behind his work, Anderson very graciously said that each piece he works on, does have a strong story behind it. He advises other jewelry artists not to go on telling magnificent tales about their pieces just to sell them, but to let their work speak for themselves. True enough, the quality of each Aaron Anderson piece speaks for Anderson’s strong inclination towards his traditional ideals and his love for the art, which has been part of his life since he was young.

The Fine Tufa Cast Jewelry of Aaron Anderson

Navajo silversmith, Aaron Anderson, is one of the icons of contemporary Native American art. He is well-known for his tufa casting method, whereby every cast piece is carefully carved by hand to produce one-of-a-kind designs. Tufa blocks are only usable once, so most artists like Aaron himself, need to create one block for each piece. Often, when an Aaron Anderson piece is sold, he includes the original tufa block he used during the casting process to emphasize the jewelry’s uniqueness and value. Authorized sellers of his tufa cast pieces may include the tufa block he used, too, along with a certificate of authenticity to assure collectors his tribal affiliation and name, as well as the item’s retail value and the materials used.

Many of his masterpieces today are created in a studio which he shares alongside other famous tufa casting specialists like Darryl Dean and Philander Begay. Though they use the same method, Aaron Anderson’s tufa cast creations are able to stand out with their one-of-a-kind designs, which often blend the traditional with contemporary themes. Moreover, he uses the raised inlay technique to create a more eye-dazzling effect on each piece. Like many remarkable artists, Aaron uses only the highest-quality and finest stones, like gem-grade coral and turquoise. Aaron Anderson’s passion for his work along with his workmanship, creativity, upbringing, and strong Christian faith all influence the designs of his tufa cast and silver bracelets.

Aaron has won many blue ribbons from different shows, as well as eight awards for his casting prowess at the Famed Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial. His tufa cast jewelry is showcased at Santa Fe’s indigenous fine art market and at the Native Jewelers Society. You should be able to find some of his works at authorized stores specializing in Native American jewelry and rare natural American turquoise.