Scrappin' It Up

If you are at all familiar with artists or art in general, I'm sure you've heard of 'phases'.

Artists go into 'phases' for a variety of reasons. Maybe they're expanding their knowledge and trying out a new design element. Perhaps they're experiencing a particularly difficult or joyful period in their lives and it's influencing their work. Maybe they're working with a new partner, and so they're learning to mesh their collective ideas and creativity.

Or they could just be trying to clear out some of the accumulated crap in their shop...

That's about where you find me right now!

I don't indulge in 'themes' and 'phases' all that much... mainly on account of A) Being too busy. B) Don't have the resources to indulge in that. Or C) No creative new projects in mind.

But for once, I have a goal! A theme if you will... one that is both potentially lucrative, doesn't cost me extra money, and is benefiting me and my shop.

Since most of my work is done in sheet metal, cutting out various patterns and designs, I always have bits and pieces of scrap left over. This scrap... if it doesn't find a home in some art project or another, ends up accumulating in my cutting table... on the flower... on tables... and in various buckets. And it's finally getting to the point where I just have TOO MUCH!!!

Seriously... there was like... three 5gal buckets of assorted bits of scrap... not to mention the scrap piled up in the catch-trough of my cutting table. That's a lot of perfectly good steel. Way too much to be throwing away, but none of it really large enough or functional enough for my to actively incorporate into my work.

And so, in an effort to try and clean up this scrap without throwing it out, I've started finding creative uses for it!

Of course, there has been some trial and error... it's not that easy to just through a bunch of scrap together and create something chaotic and messy but with a defined shape and design and have it actually LOOK good. Believe it or not... there's a lot of consideration that goes into building things with scrap and how it will look, how it presents, and whether or not you should be using the big pieces or the little pieces.

I've already managed to wreck 2 small containers and made a not-so-fantastic flower before I finally got some designs rolling I liked. And I think I'm finally getting the hand of this... kickin' out some good look sculptures now.

This is an avenue I am both familiar with... and unfamiliar with...

As an artist who likes creating recycled art, I actively try and use old, worn out things, or reuse my own left overs. Particularly scrap... if I can fit a pattern onto a piece of scrap, I'd rather cut that up then my nice, whole piece of sheet metal. That being said... I am not much of an abstract thinking or creator. Nor have I actively tried to incorporate random scrap into my work, as it is a fine balance between 'artistically messy and chaotic' and 'wow, that looks like crap'. So there's actually quite a bit of learning going on for me. Getting in touch with my 'abstract and messy' side if you will.

 So far... I'm actually rather enjoying it!

It's a fun and interesting process building these 3D forms out of bits and pieces that are in no way designed to fit together, and then making them fit together in a cohesive fashion so that when you look at it, you can see exactly what it is I am trying to do, while still keeping that empty, negative space. (and keeping it friendly to the touch)

Not only that... but my scrap pile is getting smaller! Woo!

I chewed through an entire bucket of scrap that's been following me for the last 2yrs! Granted, I've probably half-filled that bucket already with some of the other things I've been making... but I still put a dent in it! And I've got 2 more buckets to go still!

I wonder if this is how abstract artists get into their work sometimes? I'm sure most artists have trouble dealing with the assorted bits and pieces that inevitably start gathering in the corners of their shops and studios...

Artist: "Hmmm... I can't think of anything to turn all this crap into! Maybe I'll just start sticking it together and see what happens..."  BOOM!! Instant abstract success!

Perhaps I'll have to try that next... hmmm....

Oooor... maybe I'll just stick with the ideas I already have... I'm sure I could make a really awesome turtle out of this stuff...

Mothers Day

Once again, it is that time of year where families across the globe pay homage and respect to the women in their lives who raised them, nurtured them, played with them, guided them, taught them, healed them, and supported them.

It is also that time of year when we remember and laugh about all the times that mothers yelled at us, grounded us, smacked our hands, paddled our butts, dragged us to church, kicked us out of the house, took our toys, and made our homework bleed red ink.

Yes, despite what the advertising companies would have you believe, mothers are not all sweet and wonderful paragons of virtue and kindness. There is a darkness in all mothers.... a savage wrath that lurks just beneath the surface of those warm smiles and comforting hugs, just waiting to be unleashed upon their unsuspecting offspring.... generally as a result of said offspring doing something stupid or dangerous that they should know better not to...

I come from a family that is not particularly well known for their sappiness. So all the pink frills and fluffy and flowery words and poems and phrases that are currently plastered all over the card racks at the store don't really inspire any sentimental feelings when it comes to our mom.

Which isn't to say that my mom is some sort of savage, cold-hearted brute.

I have a wonderful mom. In fact, both my parents are wonderful, and I have so much respect and gratitude for them and how they raised us and all the things they taught us.

Though it took me till my mid-20's to realize this... which was about the time where things began to occur in my life and I found myself thinking "Dang it! My parents were right..."

NOT... that I would opening admit this to them, of course... *ahem*

As I grow older, I find that the things I reflect on change from year to year. As a child, Mothers Day didn't hold that much interest. It was a day where my siblings and I would be harassed into cleaning up the house, then we'd all write a quick "I love you mom" in a card, which would then be presented to her along with a gift my dad chose for her (occasionally with input from us).

When I hit my teens and early 20's, Mothers Day was just another small holiday that I always forgot about... I am so terrible with remember dates... for-warnings usually consisted of "So what're you doing for Mothers Day?" to which my response was "Huh? Oh... is it time for that?" So suffice it to say... not much happened on my end... though I usually managed to at least jot down the traditional 'Love you Mom' in a card.

To this day I still forget about Mothers Day... every year I remember it only because someone else mentions it. And even then, I never know the actual date until that Sunday, at which point its a bit late to do anything. But Mothers Day is no longer just 'another holiday', to be briefly mentioned then forgotten.

As I said, as I've gotten older and set out into the world as an adult, learning to take care of myself and live on my own, going to college, getting jobs... many of the teachings I received from my parents have come back to haunt me. All those annoying 'parental' things suddenly began to make sense.

I'm not going to go on a long, sappy shpeel about how kind and wonderful and loving my mom is... there's enough people doing that today. That's also not how I remember my mom... its not what stands out to me.

The things I remember... the things I reminisce about and respect about my mom... were the things she taught us, and the things she didn't. It was the every day practical things that you never think about, but are what enable you to go out into the world and live and survive.

My mom has never been a girly kind of mom. She didn't care for make-up or fashion, and so that was something that my sisters had to pick up from others... though I was far too corrupted by my father by that point. While it seems an odd point to be proud of... I am. Because of that, my siblings and I grew up playing in the mud and the dirt. We raised chickens and turkeys and geese, as well as cats, dogs, bunnies, and sheep. We learned to take care of a variety of animals that most people only ever see on farms or in books. We learned how to pull weeds, how to mow lawns, how to trim bushes, and how to rake leaves. We didn't mind getting dirt or paint all over our clothes, or running around barefoot, or drinking out of hoses.

We didn't waste time or money on fancy clothing, or fashionable brands, or expensive make-up. We didn't need that to feel special, or pretty. In fact... my mom taught us that fashion didn't matter if it wasn't comfortable. I know, who sits here on Mothers Day and thinks about the pros and cons of comfortable clothes? But it's true... nothing beats a good, comfortable pair of shoes when you spend all day on your feet at work, or hiking up a trail. All those frills and lace don't mean anything if the clothing isn't comfortable to move in, or gets ruined in the dirt, or gets torn by a bush.

My mom taught us the importance of comfort when it comes to our clothes, our beds, our cars, our travels. Such simple, practical knowledge, but it's something I think about and I am grateful for.

But there's more to my mom then fashion and dirt. Growing up, my mom was very poor. Her dad worked in the army, and so her family was always moving to new places. As soon as she was old enough to start working, she moved out and got a job. Education and hard work was something she strongly believed in, and something she strived for. I am happy to say she wasn't the kind of woman who simply wanted to get married and raise a family (no offense to women who do that).

I think the greatest thing that my mom instilled in all us children was a strong sense of the importance of work and education.

She was, and still is, a straight A student. As a teenager and young adult, she worked hard to support herself, spending 40+hrs a week behind a register, while also attending school. She was active in the church and church activities. And when she did have children and began to raise a family, she was able to stay home and devote her time and energies to being with us.

My parents weren't willing to settle for 'just ok' when it came to schooling. All of us kids were expected to pull A's and B's in all of our classes, and so they were always there to help us with the work. They made sure to ask us every day "What homework do you have?". They made sure we sat down and did it before we could play. Then they would look over it and check our work, and if something was wrong, they'd show us how to fix it.

I am proud to say that I and all my siblings averaged a 3.5-4.0 GPA all through grade school. And I know, without a doubt, that it was because of my parents, my moms, dedication to education that allowed us to do that. Because let me tell you... Math, English, History... not my best subjects... And once college began, I was able to take that knowledge, those skills, and apply them to my classes. And if I needed help with my homework, I had someone who I could turn to.

Because of my mom, I was able to graduate with an AAS in Biotechnology. I was able to average a 3.2-3.5 GPA all through college. Because I knew the importance of an education.

My first job was working in a Little Caesars Cafe in a Kmart. It was stressful, busy, messy, unpleasant work... but I stuck with it while I attended college. My parents, my mom, had instilled in my siblings and I a strong sense of work ethic and responsibility. I made sure I was always on time for work. When I was at work, I was there to do work, and I made sure my daily tasks and assignments were completed. This ethic, this strong sense of responsibility, has followed me all my adult life in every job I've had. I cannot simply sit back and settle for 'just enough', because I had a mom who was not content with 'just enough' and she passed that on to us.

When I was 23 I had the opportunity to move out of state to live with my cousin. This was also the first opportunity I had to move out of my parents house. And let me tell you... I was more then ready to do so!

Another thing I am exceedingly grateful for that my mom taught us kids... Independence.

I have met many people who, once they moved out on their own, couldn't not function properly in common, every day tasks. They had no idea how to wash their own clothes. They couldn't use a washing machine. They didn't understand how to clean their home and take care of themselves. They couldn't cook. They had no idea how to manage their finances. All these practical, every day things that were so ordinary to me, were beyond them... because they had mothers who took care of everything for them and never taught them how to do it.

My parents understood the value of teachings us how to live on our own and take care of our home and ourselves. And they knew the importance of not letting us get comfortable just staying home. This is something they've definitely achieved. As much as we all love our parents... none of us kids have any desire to be at home longer then we have to be. We have had a taste of the freedom of living on our own... and it pleases us... and I am so grateful that I have a mother who instilled that into us. Who taught us how to be independent and encouraged it. So that we can step out into the world without fear.

I respect my mother and everything she has taught me so much. I am grateful that I was able to sit down with my family and eat dinner every night. I am grateful for all the vacations we went on and all the things we've seen, because I had a mother who loved to travel. I am grateful to have had a childhood that didn't have much money, because it taught me the importance of money, and the importance of not being too picky about the places you live. I'm grateful for having a mother who could stay home to raise her family and teach us about life and work and love.

Even when she got mad at us, grounded us, spanked us, dragged us to events we didn't want to go to, lectured us, etc... I look back at those moments and I can see how they have shaped my life and made me into the good person that I am. Yes, even the bad moments were what made my mom such a good mother, because we learned what was right and what was wrong.

I myself am not a mother. Not entirely sure if I ever will be... but my sister is. She has a little boy and a little girl on the way. I watch her and wonder how things will turn out for her and her family.

I also think of my life and the 'what-if's' of having a family. If I do have children some day, I know I will follow in my mothers footsteps and teach them many of the things she has taught me. She has helped shape me into the person that I am today, and I can't begin to find the words to properly say thank you to her, or to explain all the ways that she has influenced me.

I just hope that if I have children, I am able to do as good a job with them as she did with us.

Take Time with a Grain of Salt

Time management is one of the key parts of running your own business, or getting an education, or ensuring that work and home run smoothly. It's something that can be both incredibly easy, and yet incredibly difficult to manage properly, mainly because its so freakin EASY to just waste away an entire day and find yourself thinking "WTF have I done with myself???"

Time management has been on my thoughts a lot lately.

Mainly because it's something I am REALLY BAD AT!

Procrastination must be a genetic trait; ingrained into my personality. I've been this way since... well.. as long as I can remember, despite my parents best attempts to curb this habit. Though in my defense... once deadlines approach and my brain finally kicks into high gear, my work tends to come out pretty good.

It's this tendency to slack off that is proving to be a constant hindrance with my work. I am far too prone to letting time slip by when I should be using it more productively. And it is a constant source of self-annoyance, let me tell ya.

But this isn't the only road block I have to navigate around from week to week.


More often then not, my weeks start out looking pretty clear, and so I think to myself "Hey, I have plenty of time to be at the shop!"

Except then I realize that I've run out of materials, and have to make a trip to the steel yard... or I have to go check out the thrift stores for recyclable materials for sculptures... or my equipment needs replacing... gloves develop holes... welder runs out of wire... plasma cutter runs out of tips...

Sudden doctor appointments eat up more time... Or spurr-of-the-moment client meetings... Last minute plans with friends and family... and of course, sudden job opportunities. As a small business owner not yet able to support myself, I often take small jobs here and there to supplement my income, and this can throw a wrench in my weekly plans.

Not to mention time spent making things... art is not easy, and sometimes it takes a LOT LONGER to create something then I thought it would, even when I have a pretty good idea of what I'm doing.

Take the last couple weeks for instance. I was finally able to find a part time job which started immediately. I also had work dog sitting for about half a week. I had to pick up materials for some projects. Had to replace parts on my machines. Had maintenance on my truck. My parents went out of town, so I had to be home to go over things to do while they were away. Bro came home from college, and sis came down to visit from out of state. Not to mention a continuous lack of sleep due to uncomfortable sleeping conditions.

All of this going on while I'm trying to juggle things at my shop because I DO still have some projects on my list, and I have to start cranking out products for some farmers markets and an art festival later this year.

Time management. It all comes down to managing my time more efficiently. Something that I am notoriously bad at doing. But it's something that I need to be better about. Especially now that I have this job... I have to cut back my hours at my shop to do that, but I also have to make sure I am at my shop to get work done.

It will take time for me to settle into my new routine and work out a schedule. And part of that is making sure clients know that if they make a commission request, they may have to wait on it for a bit. I have 2 part time jobs now... which means less time spent crafting. Any time estimates I make are just that... they are ESTIMATES. Because I never know when something unexpected will pop up during my week and eat up all my free time. Or if a projects proves to be a lot more difficult and time consuming then I anticipated (this happens a lot actually...)

This is why I say Time should be taken with a Grain of Salt. I'm not the most disciplined person in the world, and I realize that. And I HATE having things just hanging, waiting to be finished. But I also find that my life is constantly flowing and changing, and so I can't always guarantee that things will be finished in the time frame I *think* they would be. More so now then ever before!

But let me tell ya... the wait will be worth it.

Hello all my fine and fabulous readers!

Once again I am embarking on an adventure of writing, reflecting, discussing, and general ramblings of various aspects of my life, mainly those that relate to my art and my studio; The Iron Phoenix.

This is not the first blog I have started. Or even the 2nd... or 4th... *ahem*

I am a terrible 'journal keeper' as it were... I don't write journals or blogs in general. I don't even keep a sketch book with drawings or notes on my art (I know, bad artist! Bad!), though it is on my to-do list to be worked on at some undefined later date....

At any rate! Though I am terrible at keeping things such as this updated... I've been feeling more and more driven to create my own blog and actually WRITE in it. There's a lot of things that go on in my life, particularly revolving around my shop, that I've wanted to share or discuss, but I lack someone to do that with. Or rather... I find I want to share my general musing about my work and things I learn, but because they generally don't have a specific focus, other then to express my thoughts, I find it awkward just bringing it up to people in random conversation.

There is an pleasant sense of anonymity in writing on a blog. Much like jotting down your thought in your journal or diary, or throwing out a quick doodle in a sketch book. I don't have to worry about feeling awkward or uncomfortable, or wondering "Would this person even be interesting in listening to me?"

Of course, nothing on the internet is truly anonymous. ESPECIALLY when it's in a blog. But, that brings me back to the afore mentioned desire to share my thoughts. Here I can throw out my various ideas, opinions, thoughts, feelings, and desires, and so so in a medium that people can read and give their feed back, or keep up to date on current events, or find inspiration/kinship in what I have to say.

Provided I remember to update! Hah!

That I think will be my greatest challenge. Remembering to get on here and spend time writing! Blogs are all well and good, but they certainly aren't any fun if you don't do anything with it.

This blog is going to focus mainly on my art and my studio; The Iron Phoenix. I will share images of my work, links to various places of interest, musing on designs, ideas and the crafting of sculpture, and the struggles of being an artist going into business for the first time. I will also write about my life, my experiences, my family, and how this may or may not relate to my art in some way.

So if this piques your interest, keep reading!

Perhaps you will find something of interest here.