39 min
Bernie Mitchell: "The Bob Ross of Drywall" Live2cre8
-
- Arts
Imagine the walls around you not just as barriers defining space, but as canvases brimming with potential artistry. That's the reality Bernie Mitchell, the Bob Ross of Drywall, has been sculpting for nearly forty years as an artist who's ingeniously redefined the realm of art and building materials. With his tools of choice—a drywall knife and kitchen spoons—he crafts landscapes and wildlife with such finesse that they breathe a new life into the walls they inhabit. His technique, honed over nearly four decades, challenges the preconceived notions of art, proving that the ordinary can indeed become extraordinary.
Listen in as Bernie reveals the intricacies of his craft, from the perfect consistency of joint compound to the impact of lighting on his sculptures. His anecdotes of hitchhiking to Alberta, carving out a niche in southern Ontario's cottage country, and finding inspiration in nature to fuel his art are as inspiring as they are fascinating. As we explore the balance between passion and livelihood, Bernie's stories of sharing his knowledge and becoming a minor celebrity in the art world offer an authentic look at the intersection of artistry and business. Whether you're an aspiring artist or simply appreciate the joy of creation, this episode is a testament to the power of following one's passion and the beauty that can be found in unexpected places.
We cover a lot in this episode including:
Sculpting with nothing more than common kitchen utensils
How lighting is way more important than sculpting
for this type of art, and how light moving throughout the day changes the look and feel of a sculpture
Finding creative inspiration in nature, and the joys and freedom of being outdoors
The importance of money versus creativity
The surprise factor of being an overnight, viral sensation
The challenges involved with human portraits
Why this is such an easy and cheap artistic medium for people to get started in and experiment with
The challenge of managing a business with all your thoughts and efforts on concentrated on the artistic endeavor
BIO
Bernie Mitchell has been dubbed "The Bob Ross of Drywall" and "The Mud Michelangelo," and is a man with an incredibly unique skill set: he sculpts elaborate and detailed landscapes in bas relief in drywall (using nothing more than kitchen utensils!), redefining the boundaries of interior design and home decor. As a drywall contractor, he puts his creativity to work designing, constructing, sculpting and finishing specialty features in shoreline homes and cottages.
He prefers to use birds as his main subjects – blue heron, osprey and loons – but he also enjoys sculpting horses, wolves and dogs. In addition to the high-end homes and business he decorates,
Bernie has toured both the US and Canada doing demonstrations, teaching workshops and putting his incredibly unique talents on display.
Bernie lived in Alberta for 23 years, and spent lots of quality time traveling with his family throughout British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska. These beautiful surroundings are evident in all of the scenes and subjects he’s chosen for his sculptures. Bernie and his family live on Pigeon Lake, in Ontario, Canada. He takes his family on canoe trips every summer, and his pride and joy is a cedar strip canoe he built himself.
Imagine the walls around you not just as barriers defining space, but as canvases brimming with potential artistry. That's the reality Bernie Mitchell, the Bob Ross of Drywall, has been sculpting for nearly forty years as an artist who's ingeniously redefined the realm of art and building materials. With his tools of choice—a drywall knife and kitchen spoons—he crafts landscapes and wildlife with such finesse that they breathe a new life into the walls they inhabit. His technique, honed over nearly four decades, challenges the preconceived notions of art, proving that the ordinary can indeed become extraordinary.
Listen in as Bernie reveals the intricacies of his craft, from the perfect consistency of joint compound to the impact of lighting on his sculptures. His anecdotes of hitchhiking to Alberta, carving out a niche in southern Ontario's cottage country, and finding inspiration in nature to fuel his art are as inspiring as they are fascinating. As we explore the balance between passion and livelihood, Bernie's stories of sharing his knowledge and becoming a minor celebrity in the art world offer an authentic look at the intersection of artistry and business. Whether you're an aspiring artist or simply appreciate the joy of creation, this episode is a testament to the power of following one's passion and the beauty that can be found in unexpected places.
We cover a lot in this episode including:
Sculpting with nothing more than common kitchen utensils
How lighting is way more important than sculpting
for this type of art, and how light moving throughout the day changes the look and feel of a sculpture
Finding creative inspiration in nature, and the joys and freedom of being outdoors
The importance of money versus creativity
The surprise factor of being an overnight, viral sensation
The challenges involved with human portraits
Why this is such an easy and cheap artistic medium for people to get started in and experiment with
The challenge of managing a business with all your thoughts and efforts on concentrated on the artistic endeavor
BIO
Bernie Mitchell has been dubbed "The Bob Ross of Drywall" and "The Mud Michelangelo," and is a man with an incredibly unique skill set: he sculpts elaborate and detailed landscapes in bas relief in drywall (using nothing more than kitchen utensils!), redefining the boundaries of interior design and home decor. As a drywall contractor, he puts his creativity to work designing, constructing, sculpting and finishing specialty features in shoreline homes and cottages.
He prefers to use birds as his main subjects – blue heron, osprey and loons – but he also enjoys sculpting horses, wolves and dogs. In addition to the high-end homes and business he decorates,
Bernie has toured both the US and Canada doing demonstrations, teaching workshops and putting his incredibly unique talents on display.
Bernie lived in Alberta for 23 years, and spent lots of quality time traveling with his family throughout British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska. These beautiful surroundings are evident in all of the scenes and subjects he’s chosen for his sculptures. Bernie and his family live on Pigeon Lake, in Ontario, Canada. He takes his family on canoe trips every summer, and his pride and joy is a cedar strip canoe he built himself.
39 min