Hi Octane Industries was founded by Alicia Hanson an environmental graphic designer by training, jewelry designer and creator by heart. She comes from a family prolific in art and design. Alicia has always been enamored with classic cars. From watching sparks fly as her dad welded on projects, to road trips seeking out the next car project. Alicia has owned classic Chevy’s and Volkswagons. She is comfortable pulling parts in a junkyard or being all dolled up at a car show. Themes of vintage cars, vintage tropical floral, vintage exotica, Hawaiiana and Asian art can be found throughout her work. As a young adult, Alicia spent time in rural mountain towns on the west coast. Driving dusty, dirt back-roads to explore turquoise and crystal mines, while collecting antlers and shiny silver objects along the way.

Alicia met her husband Brad Johnson, a fellow artist, traveler and maker, as their personalities, lifestyles, and souls melded and forged. Brad and Alicia fused a union in which the process of designing and creating jewelry together proved to be a natural expression. Participating together in the alchemy and transformation that metals express when they are exposed to various elements is fascinating and awe-inspiring and they found themselves hooked. Together the two traveled by car and ferry, to learn silversmithing and the art of Lost Wax Casting at Pratt Fine Art in Seattle, WA.

Their love affair with old cars continues. Alicia and Brad now reside by the sea in the coastal city of Oceanside, California. Together they spend countless hours sketching, carving, soldering, organic gardening, tending to kid-ohs, cooking for friends, scouring thrift shops and venturing on road trips, documenting with thousands of photos along the way, all apart of their journey and creation process. Alicia and Brad are the founders of Hi Octane Jewelry, along with SilverBotanica. SilverBotanica is an online retailer and artisan studio, the SilverBotanica online retail store carries, Sterling Silver Jewelry, Purses, Vintage Wares, and Stationery Goods.

Visitors are welcome to tour the studio and learn first hand the process of lost wax casting and silversmithing. Silversmithing, Lost Wax Casting Classes and Workshops are Available too. See Alicia’s graphic design and web design at Hi Octane Design.