FAQs
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
in 1997, I was working for Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah as a Corporate Trainer as my first job after grad school (Univ of Michigan!). I had bought a huge, very old, very beautiful, house that needed a lot of love. I made my own steel garden fence because I didnt see any reason not to. Ive never been one to let my own ignorance stop me when it comes to trying to make things with my hands and I deeply love to learn. Thats when working with steel captured my heart and mind forever. I firmly believe were all artists, every one of us. The urge to create things is a primal drive were all born with. Different occupations offer different levels of opportunity to apply our creative instincts. Unfortunately, those expressive opportunities seem to be diminishing as time goes on. For me, art is the only domain in which this type of life is possible. Managing to remain an artist despite all the demands society makes on us to be conventional, to conform and play by the rules, is a major accomplishment for anyone just ask the next dedicated artist you meet.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Hiring an artist, if youve not done it before, can be a little different. You may have a very specific idea of what you want. If thats the case, try to have sketches or dimensions or images ready. If your project is less defined, be prepared to answer questions about location, function or price range. The more specific you can be, the more likely you are to get an accurate estimate. If the project needs definition, it may take some discussion. My estimates include time for design, fabrication, finishing, and installation as required. The goal is to make the client comfortable with the plan before work begins.