Never was a kid to color between the lines. I had pretty cruddy penmanship. It sure was a suprise when I drew a recognizable antelope in high school. We didn't have any artist in the family. I guess that made me feel special.
Around thirty I felt I'd never be anything more than a carpenter. Just as I finished my apprenticeship an economic hiccup hit commercial construction in California. No work for over a year. I found an old set of oil paints and surprised myself with my painting ability. Ended up working with a muralist, T. Scott Sayer.
We get a lot of propaganda about how anyone can make it in this country. You can be what ever you want to be. You just have to not give up, give it 100%, never say never. Bunch of crap really, but I had to try. I moved to Idaho and spent a year trying to be a wildlife artist. You would think Sun Valley Idaho would have a wildlife art gallery. Well they didn't. Wildlife art just didn't sell.
I had this brain storm to combine a picture frame with a painting. Which ment building the frame. Dad had a small woodshop in his garage. That changed everything. I ended upgoing to the College of Southern Idaho. They had one of the few college level woodworking programs. I actually ended up winning third place in a national woodworking competition. Shortly I was a journeyman cabinet builder. Had my own shop. Made a good living. I just wasn't being an artist. This web site is a record of that attempt.
Every year I'd do a piece and try to sell it. I even made it into a few galleries. Matter of fact, I closed down five galleries in ten years. One of them twice. What I saw was folks trying to follow their American dream. I watched that dream putter out as they burned through their life savings. It hurt. It opened my eyes up to just how few small buisnesses we really have. I don't mean government small, I mean family size.
It was interesting how many people thought my work would take off "If I only...".First it was if I could get my work seen in Sun Valley, Idaho.The people would love it. Well they didn't. Seems a rustic log cabin should be filled with modern furniture for contrast. Another was getting a web site. Six years not a single sale. Know that craft site, ESTY. Right no sales. I did the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for two years. That show cost me close to $4,000.00, not including the time. No sales. I've done three small shows. I didn't even make booth fees on my first one. Right no sales. The next two I made a bunch of cutting boards and twig baskets. At least I sold some thing. The last day of my last show I watched 700 people or so walk by my booth and all I sold was a $13.00 basket. Don't get me wrong people "loved" my work, especially the other artist. It just dosn't fit in a modern home.
Years of working construction has done my back in. Arthritis has taken it's toll. I just can't move furniture around anymore. I'm done. I figure between the shop, tools, supplies and time I've wasted close to $60,000.00. I always told myself I'd be able to get a client base and support myself when I retire. Now it's all gone, but damn it was fun.
It's funny. I've been in the press many times as a success. I guess I just wanted the truth told. Maybe some day I'll get the bug again, but for today, I'll play with my goats, bake some bread, and work in the garden. I have built some awesome rabbit hutches, chicken tractors, and bee hives. Life is good!