Deanna Pastel was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2010 she received her BFA in Jewelry/Metals at Kent State University. Upon graduating, she was offered a position as a bench jeweler and trainer at Heather B. Moore Inc. in Cleveland, OH. This is where she began fine-tuning her skills in soldering gold, setting stones and hand stamping on silver and high end gold jewelry works.
In 2012 she landed in Austin, TX, and began her career as one of the main teachers and as the studio director/coordinator at Creative Side Jewelry Academy. She spent 2012-2017 developing the school’s core curriculum, while working closely with other master artists and her students.
In 2018 she was granted an apprenticeship to spend two months working alongside artist Victoria Lansford doing macro chasing and repousse, and became a presence both artistically and professionally for the Society of North American Goldsmiths. For the past several years, she has expanded to teaching at multiple schools and colleges around the Austin and San Antonio area providing eclectic and diverse course offerings at all levels of experience and financial availability. She also continues to work at her bench in her home studio doing commissions, custom and repair work as well as her personal line for shows and one of a kind artworks.
