Jeff Spangler was born in the midwest to artist parents and moved to No. California in his teens. He has lived in the wilds of Mendocino county for most of his life. He recently migrated to the Santa Barbara area where he continues his work. Jeff is a Jade hunter / sculptor / jeweler working almost exclusively with true Jade [Nephrite]. He is a self taught carver that has been working in many mediums, metal, wood, ivory, etc. for many years, but an accidental encounter with stone carving, Serpentine, got him on the path of Jade fifteen years ago.
Jeff is an amateur geologist and hunts for Jade in the wilderness mountains of Northern California, and has about thirty different Jade discoveries he has made. Most of his art is from these finds. These deposits are all “float Jade”, boulders from rivers and creeks; he doesn't do any mining. His works are original designs that are often dictated by the stone itself. He also has a deep connection with and is inspired by the old Jade cultures of the world, particularly Meso America, Olmec and Mayan, and ancient China. Many of his pieces are tools, celts, etc., as was characteristic of the oldest Jade carvings. His work has been shown in a number of galleries in No. California, San Francisco, Sante Fe, and now So. California. He also attends and lectures at art shows and conferences with his work.
Waterstones, Suiseki in Japanese, and known as Scholar Stones by the Chinese, are an ancient and living art form that honors the spirit of the stone in it's natural state as carved by Mother Nature and graciously presents it in a formal way intimately nested in a ''Dai'' base of wood. This is an integral part of Jeff's art besides the sculptural and jewelry carvings and netsuke he creates. He strives to personalize the custom work he does for patrons so that they connect with the stone and subject in what becomes a personal artifact or talisman; a trinity of stone, anima spirit, and owner; a true Touchstone, as the Chinese term Pa Wan Yu, “hold and feel Jade” honors . Jeff is now laterally expanding into heavy gold work as an elegant way to showcase the living sensuality of Jade. He also carves and uses pearls and abalone in many of his creations as this balances the Jade [pure Yang] with Pearl [pure Yin]. But Jade, the ultimate carving material, is always at the heart of Jeff’’s inspiration and his art. He considers this work a prayer to honor “The Bones of the Mother” .... Jade