Jewelry enthusiasts understand that oftentimes, a unique memory or story lies behind each accessory. Nestled along Fulton Place in Fremont, -ing Art Studio offers customers a creative journey to craft their own metal artwork and jewelry.
Founded by friends Skylar Bao and Will Wang, -ing Art Studio is a DIY studio that offers jewelry-making classes and hosts curated gallery showcases of jewelry.
Bao was born in Helong Jian, a province in the northeastern region of China. In March 2010, when Bao was 14 years old, she immigrated to the U.S., settling in Fremont, California with her family. “The differences in language, school system, exams, and college applications were completely new to me,” Bao said. “My dad doesn’t know any English, so nobody could guide me. I had to figure it out myself and with my friends.”
Not only did Bao have to adjust to a new country, but she also had to navigate her pursuit through a non-traditional career path: jewelry design. “During high school, I had to decide what direction I wanted to go. Either I go for what I was really passionate about even though it doesn’t have a promising future, or I major in something else. My parents didn’t want to push me to anything I didn’t like, so I set my mind on doing jewelry. I told myself that I was going to try all I can until one day I fail,” Bao explained.
Since childhood, Bao has had a keen interest in jewelry. “Where we lived, there was a shopping mall. On the second floor of the mall, there were many jewelry cases. My mom and I would talk about what I would do if I tried to design each piece of jewelry,” Bao explained.
After high school, Bao majored in metals and jewelry and minored in fashion merchandising at CSU Long Beach. Then in 2021, Bao studied jewelry design in Italy at Istituto Europeo di Design. “When I was pursuing my master’s degree, the professor asked us what our career goal was. I told them that eventually I want a space where I can work with people who have an interest in jewelry design but don’t have experience,” Bao said.
At the end of 2021, Bao met Wang through a mutual friend. Both had extensive experience in the art community and were seeking a new entrepreneurial venture. As a result, the two began brainstorming the initial plans for the studio. “We couldn’t find a business model so we had to figure it out ourselves. At first, we struggled with figuring out the pricing and marketing,” Bao said.
-ing Art Studio officially opened on June 25, 2023, with the motto “to inspire people to remain present and focused on the here and now.” The use of the suffix “-ing,” which is used with all progressive tense verbs, represents Bao and Wang’s hope to experience the present through creating art. “The past is the past, and no one knows the future. What you can only experience is the present. That’s why I want people to focus on the present moment,” Bao said.
Currently, -ing Art Studio offers jewelry-making classes in silver clay, 925 silver, and 14k/18k gold. The studio offers a variety of styles and types of jewelry options, including rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. Customers can also add custom stampings, texts, and textures to their jewelry designs. No prior experience is required, and all materials and equipment are provided by the studio.
“I feel that nowadays it is so easy to purchase a ring, but in crafting a hand-made ring, every stroke requires different tools. The point of hand-making is not the result; it’s the process, the time, and the thought that you put into it that matters,” Bao said.
Bao’s advice to aspiring immigrant business owners is to be optimistic about dreams and aspirations: “There are many possibilities. Don’t stop yourself or tell yourself no.”
Book a workshop session with Bao and Wang here. -ing Art Studio is located at 1205 Fulton Place in Fremont.
Thank you so much for featuring us in your column! The article is beautifully written and expressed precisely the idea behind our business. We enjoyed the conversation very much!