Meet Cortney Marcinczyk | Silversmith & Business Owner of Mountain Glow Studio

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cortney Marcinczyk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cortney, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
In May 2021 I lost my partner Johnny Whelden to suicide. We shared a beautiful home and life together in Jamestown, Colorado. After his passing, that beautiful life was ripped away and my world was pulled out from underneath my feet. I was left floating (more like a shell of a human), grieving, lost and confused. At the time of his passing I was working part-time at a Tree Care company in Boulder that we both actually worked at together and spent the other part of my time making jewelry. When he died, I quit my job immediately and began the process of selling our home and processing my pain. With the help of my incredible community, family and an amazing therapist, over time I was able to start standing on my own feet again.

I learned silversmithing in May of 2020 during COVID. Johnny helped build me a stunning studio in our home and it was pure magic. I had views of the Front Range from one window and Arapahoe Peaks from the other. The way that the light radiated through my little studio is the reason I decided to name my studio Mountain Glow Studio. It was truly special. I can’t help but think that there was a reason why I found this medium when I did. Though I was completely unaware at the time. In a way, it was prepping me for survival when my life would ultimately come crashing down.

As I began the rebuild my life, my art was the only thing that I could see clearly. I slowly began working with metal and turquoise again, and it became inherently clear that this medium was how I was going to process my grief and what was going to save my life. I was able to creatively express my pain by take something rough and turning it into something beautiful (much like what I was hoping to do with my life). It was a symbol. It was at that time that decided to focus most of my energy on healing and on growing my business, because in all honesty, it’s all that I could do.

I think what allows me to be successful with my business is being authentic. I was vocal about my experience the entire time to my customers, not because I was looking for pity, but because it was real and it was what was shaping my business and my life. I am vocal in spreading awareness on how suicide is so present this day and age and to help in any way that I possibly can to end the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health. I now donate 2% of all sales to rotating organizations working in mental health and suicide prevention and awareness.

Jewelry has allowed me to express myself, it gives me strength and confidence, and provides me with stability and joy. Connecting with my customers and seeing my art on so many radiating faces is one of the greatest gifts of all time. I love what I do and am so proud that I made the conscious decision to focus on my healing and to use my creativity so that I can live a fulfilling and loving life, the way that Johnny would want me to live.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I took the Level 1 Metalsmithing for Jewelry course with Chapin Dimond at Boulder Metalsmithing Association (BOMA) in May of 2020. In this course I learned the tools that I would need to get started and the basics of soldering, polishing, etc. We learned how to make 3 simple stacker rings. I took that design idea and decided to turn them into big hoop earrings, because at that time it was all I knew how to make haha. To this day, that design is one of my most popular pairs, specifically the moonstone Fully Moon Hoops. With the foundation that I learned, I gave myself a goal of making a piece a day to practice and get better Man, let me tell you, I struggled. Sure I made some “decent” stuff, but it was really just a lot of fumbling, melted my pieces and cracking stones during setting. It was frustrating but oh so thrilling and inspiring in the same breath. I began watching youtube videos and following artists on instagram and tried different techniques. Was I doing it all the correct way? Probably not, but I began finding my rhythm and things that worked for me and things that certainly did not. I chuckle when I look back at my early pieces because wow, some of them are bad, but it has been so incredibly cool to see how far I have come in this short amount of time.

What I’ve learned is that I don’t care too much for my pieces to be perfect. Yes, I want them to look stunning, but I like seeing some solder lines, rough finishes and want my pieces to look homemade. I want my customers to know that their jewelry was made by hardworking hands and that my heart is poured into every single piece that I make. I think my experience in life has taught me that life doesn’t always go according to plan, and is far from perfect, but it’s still beautiful. That’s what I hope for with my craft.

I want my jewelry to make people feel confident, bold, sexy, authentic and empowered. The way that making it has helped me to feel.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh wow, how long do we have?! It is undeniable that Colorado is one of the coolest places around, so it’s almost impossible to narrow that down haha.

Assuming this is one of those super dreamy long summer days I would start by taking them to get coffee on Tennyson and then go do a little bopping around and check out all the cute shops. We’d go to Sloan’s lake for a little stroll and admire the city’s beautiful skyline and mountains in the distance and then get weird at Meowolf. Then we’d cruise around RiNo and admire the mind blowing street art. The day would be finished by packing a picnic and heading to the lot at Red Rock’s and catching some of our favorite artists play.

Throughout the week we’d pack my car with the necessities (yummy snacks, good playlists, cozy clothes, camping gear) and drive 70 west towards the western slope, stopping at hot springs, antique shops, cute restaurants and fun sights along the way. Ultimately we would end up vinyard hopping in Paonia, soaking in hot springs and camping in National Forest areas away from people. I recently discovered Owl Creek Pass between Gunnison and Ouray and that has been one of my favorite places I’ve visited in a long time. So camping and exploring that area would certainly be on the list!!

We’d spend time with my friends because they’re weird and loving and the coolest people that I know. It’ll usually end by cooking or getting a tasty bite and seeing some form of live music!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My best friend and partner Johnny Whelden who passed away is the number one person that I have to thank for this journey. He provided me with a home where Mountain Glow Studio was built and was always so hyped when I finished a new piece. He was encouraging and supportive from the very beginning. Because he made the decision to leave this earth, I have made the decision to spread my art with the world stronger than ever. It’s for me and my own healing, the healing of others, but mainly because I know it is exactly what he wants me to be doing.

I have the greatest circle of friends and the strongest family I could ask for. I would particularly like to dedicate this shoutout to my best friend’s Tarah Bailey and Adam Mickelsen who took me in in my darkest time in life and gave me a cozy room to sleep in, warm meals to eat and a garage to rebuild my art studio in. Tarah knows me so well, and knew that using my hands and being creative was so important to my healing and personal growth. She encouraged me to get back to the studio and start creating again. Thank you T for all that you’ve done, you mean the absolute world to me.

During my grief journey (which I’m still currently on), I felt like Colorado was continuing to beat me down so I left for a few months and stayed with my family in Connecticut. When I got home, I found out that my dad built me an art studio in the attic and had named it “Mountain Glow East.” It was truly one of the sweetest gestures of all time. My parents didn’t pressure me to “find a new job” and let me fumble in my own way. They, like Tarah, knew that my jewelry was what I needed to do and they made me feel encouraged to follow that knowing. In that attic I came up with new designs and really felt like my inspiration and talent was coming back. Thank you mom and dad for being so loving and encouraging, even though I have to stop you mom from buying everything.

Lastly, I want to thank my customers and followers. You give me purpose, you give me strength, you give me connection and it is an absolute honor to being supported by you and to see you wearing my jewelry. Thank you for your continued support and for following along on this journey.

Website: https://www.mountainglowstudio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mountainglowstudio/

Image Credits
Chelsea @ Alpine Glow Photography Me and a good ole iphone.