Nice to meet you...

Welcome to Active Fault Studios, my virtual shop, where I get to share my art and joy of design with others through metal and stone.

I’m Dana Schwerman, metalsmith and photographer. I’m the owner and creator of the work you see here in the shop.

My brand, Active Fault Studios, is inspired by nature’s geological faults, reflecting how change and movement can create something unexpected and beautiful. My logo expresses this as a tree created from fractured pieces of earth, with warm colors that are a nod to the deep canyons and desert red rocks, where I find myself both grounded and freed. 

Serendipity is how I found my love of metalsmithing. I stumbled upon this medium after falling in love with the pieces of so many talented artists I follow, and I had to give it a go. 

I’ve been a long time collector of rocks and stones- every room in my house has a few, and combining my geological admiration with the ability to create with my hands feels like the crossroads of my passions.

I reside in San Antonio, Texas and my work is inspired by my time spent in nature and traveling. When I am not at the workbench or doing my full time corporate gig, I am exploring this beautiful planet- mountains, oceans, rivers, deserts- you name it. My favorite inspirational spots include Sedona, Glacier National Park, Cannon Beach, Olympic National Park and the Wasatch Mountains. Having grown up in Salt Lake City, I will always be a mountain girl.

I also spend regular weekends at my small ranch in the Texas Hill Country where I am experimenting with shipping container housing and wildlife conversation efforts, restoring habitats for our native species. For that reason I create in the pockets of time I can carve out, so I don’t turn out big shop drops like many who design full time, instead I add items as I finish them, so there is always something new popping up.

I also share the behind the scenes of my creative process on my Instagram account. If hammers, torches and sheet metal are your thing- or if you want to know more about my coffee habits- come check me out!

Thank you for visiting my shop and drop me a line if you have any comments or questions.