Jerry 'Swede' Faris was born in Missouri. Early in life his family instilled in him a love of the outdoors. Many happy hours were spent hunting, fishing and roaming the Ozark hills and hollers.

In his early twenties, Jerry started working with a local coppersmith and this was to change his life. He fell in love with the warm feel and natural glow of the copper. For the next 20 years he worked with other coppersmiths and from his home perfecting his techniques and forming his own style.

In 1999 he built his own working studio in the peaceful Ozark Mountains. Weather permitting, a breeze can be felt from the open doors, birds and animals can be seen outside his window and wildflowers bloom in season. "I draw much inspiration from my surroundings," Swede says, "I love coming to work."

Jerry has no formal art education but possesses a natural sense of design. This combined with a love of nature shows in his beautiful lighting and sculpture. He studies wildlife and plant life to make his copper creations as realistic as possible. He takes great pride in his work and no piece leaves his shop until it meets his high standard of excellence and he is proud to put his mark on each piece. He was recognized in 2000 as Craftsman of the Year by the American Institute of Architects in Springfield, Missouri. He hopes that his pieces will be treasured by their owners and passed down to further generations to appreciate.