I like rocks. I liked them as a kid, and love them as an adult. I went from entertained, to hobbyist, to passion, addiction, my all, and now- livelihood.

I’ve visited well over a 300 mines to dig. I have my own workers overseas and locally. I have been mass producing abroad since 2017. Currently, I enjoy combining intarsia and carving techniques.

Metal work followed suit. I first thought making jewelry was girly- then I tried it, and had a knack for it. It was like adult Lego- except more people than “my mom” could like it. Casting is my favorite metal practice, though I fabricate as well.

This is my calling: lapidary, jewelry manufacture, selling kids fossils, selling groups of ecstatic ladies crystals. I enjoy the rock world, and hope to make a mark on it.

With nearly five decades of experience in the lapidary arts, Guenter Otto has mastered a diverse range of techniques, including intarsia, inlay work, gem carving, faceting, fantasy gemstone carving, and jade carving. His extensive training includes courses in silversmithing, goldsmithing, foldforming, and advanced metalwork techniques with luminaries like Harold O’Connor, Charles Lewton-Brain, and Nancy Megan Corwin. Guenter has also refined his skills in design, casting, and gemology through Vancouver College and studied jade carving in a one-on-one workshop with Deborah Wilson. His travels have taken him to workshops across the globe, from Nepal to Bali, allowing him to exchange insights with international artisans.

Guenter has been an active and passionate member of the lapidary community for over 30 years, including leadership roles as a two-time president of the Creative Jeweler’s Guild of BC. He has shared his expertise widely, teaching classes on gemstone carving, intarsia, intaglio, amber carving, and various metal techniques throughout Canada and the U.S. A decorated artist, his accolades include multiple first-place wins in the Pacific Northwest Jewelry Guild competitions, recognition at the 2014 World Jade Symposium, and a commission to carve a 100-carat sunstone for a Smithsonian traveling exhibition. Guenter’s artistry has also been featured at prestigious events, such as the Vancouver Museum’s jade exhibition, The Ultimate Treasures of Ancient China.

Studiostone Creative believes that anyone, ages 8 to 99, can carve stone with the right tools and guidance. The journey began in Oliver Harwood’s sculpture studio when an elementary school teacher reached out, asking if he could teach stone carving to her students. Until then, Oliver had only taught adults to carve large blocks of stone using heavy tools in 20-hour workshops. After much experimentation and refinement, a beginner-friendly stone carving program was developed, quickly gaining success and enthusiasm.

As a professional artist, Oliver has completed numerous public and private commissions. With a BFA in sculpture, over 25 years of experience and trained in Italian marble studios, Oliver’s specialty is the language of stone. He is also experienced with steel, bronze, aluminum, all types of wood and most recently jewelry making. Committed to working with natural materials, his designs are inspired by the landscape and stories of an area. He continues to explore new ideas in his own work, such as the physicality of sound.

Today, Studiostone Creative is a team of Oliver and several skilled instructors who are passionate about introducing the timeless art of stone carving to people of all ages and skill levels.