THE MYSTIC SMITH

The Mystic Smith is a Eugene, Oregon craft studio founded in 2024 by Franklin Smith.  We make keepsake treasures and curiosities out of copper and brass, with the aim of bringing mystery and whimsy into the world.  We produce a variety of objects, from garden art to tarot cards to jewelry. 

At The Mystic Smith, we draw heavily on the tradition of the artisan, putting utmost care and pride into each item we create.  We believe that this philosophy of intention is an antidote to many of the ailments of our modern mass-consumerist society, and our hope is that these creations will help you to slow down and see the spark of uniqueness and mystery in your own life.

“Living is an art”
Clinton Fearon

Unlike most of these origin stories, I never really showed an aptitude for physical crafting when I was young.  We didn’t have a large workshop in my garage when I was growing up, and most of my education was focused on left-brain, intellectually-oriented pursuits.  Yet as I came into adulthood, I realized that a part of me really enjoyed fixing, tinkering, and creating things.  This was mostly out of necessity, whether it being converting a van for travels around New Zealand, remodeling a sailboat, or performing the countless maintenance projects associated with home ownership.

Through my childhood, my parents would also tell me stories of my ancestors who were artisans in their own right.  My great-grandfather August Arendt was a blacksmith in New York, and legend has it that his father-in-law was a personal blacksmith for the kaiser of Germany.  Great-grandpa Frankie was a woodworker and owned a Christmas tree farm.  As I got deeper into this journey of craftsmanship, I realized that I was not alone in these pursuits, but I was supported by a family tradition that dated back generations.  My last name Smith began to take on a new meaning for me, and I saw that in a sense, metal runs through my veins.

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”
Isaac Newton

As with most arts, guidance and mentorship from a teacher in metalworking is invaluable.   There is a certain type of knowledge transmission that can only happen through in-person instruction   YouTube videos and messing around by yourself in your garage will only take you so far.  I will be forever grateful to the people I have already encountered on this short journey. 

A chance meeting at the OSU Small Farms conference in 2023 brought me into contact with master craftsman Mark Files of Celtic Forge.  Mark was the one who really initiated me into this world, showing me the basics of forging and working with brass.  I have taken classes at Fuse Jewelry Collective in Eugene, learning a variety of jewelry-making techniques from the knowledgeable instructors there.   And in 2024 I met Ed Sharp of DRC Studio at the Eugene Saturday Market.  Ed has been incredibly generous with his time and advice, and he opened me to the wonderful world of creating with copper.

At The Mystic Smith, I aim to marry centuries-old metalworking techniques with modern technologies and tools.  For precision engraving and cutting, I use a CNC machine manufactured by Carbide3D.   I am most excited when I am able to combine these capabilities with other traditional skills like forging, brazing and metal finishing.  I also always endeavor for continual improvement, striving to become a little better at my craft each day.