Runnels Gem and Lapidary

Meet The Artist

Hey! I’m Max Runnels, the guy making the artwork and creator of Runnels Gem And Mineral Co.

As a kid, I was always interested in rocks, starting my early collection with fossils, quartz, and possibly a chunk of asphalt looking back… After focusing on some other arts like drawing, painting, and music, I went to college at Eastern Michigan for Simulation, Animation, and Gaming, a 3D Design and concepting degree.

During my first semester, I came back home and went to a farmer’s market in Hartland MI where I found a member of the Livingston Gem & Mineral Society (LGMS). She had a gorgeous booth filled with rough rocks, specimens, and handcrafted jewelry. As soon as I stepped into that booth, I felt like a little kid again looking at all the bold colors, patterns, and shapes. We started talking about what cool things you could find in Michigan and then branched off into rocks I had never heard of from other places I had never been. After talking for a bit, she pointed me to join the club down the road, where my mom and I joined for my birthday. After we took an entry class, Mom and I would continue to go and polish rocks together from our trips to the great lakes in the following summer.

Nancy was one of many members that would shape me as a lapidary artist, learning how to shape and form rocks before polishing them to a shiny brand new piece for you! polishing and shaping rocks and gems from all over the world, whether they be found or traded through the multiple collectors I have come to know in my time! Thank you for taking the time to visit and I hope you enjoy either looking at some of the creations I share or the piece you take home with you!