Furniture Artist Life with Aaron

Aaron
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Experiences, community, and challenges in Life that furniture artists all go through on a daily basis. If you love brushes and paint, … and furniture is your canvas!!!—you’re in the right place.

  1. Having Conversations

    04/18/2022

    Having Conversations

    Communication In this episode, I want to challenge you to have conversations. Go out of your way to communicate with others. Make a difference in your day and in the day of others. You may change your life while you are at it. Support the show

    15 min
  2. Critiquing Your Work

    04/04/2022

    Critiquing Your Work

    Critiquing Your Work Do you work on a project, and you get that feeling that something isn’t quite right about it, and you aren’t sure how to fix it? There are a lot of factors that can affect how you edit your project so it feels right. What is it that is making you feel like something needs to be edited or adjusted? o   Is it the right fit for your home? o   Is it something your customers will want? o   Are you concerned about what others will think? o   Is it a good design? o   Some factors in design can be Unity, Balance, Color harmony, eye flow, etc. o   Are you rushing the project? o   Take a break and “sleep on it” as we call it. o   Check it in different lighting o   Don’t be afraid to let it go too o   I am regularly reminded that someone will love it. o   One of my repeated goals is that I remind myself to do is to battle through the project and get it done. I am not usually one to recommend that you put it to the side a while. But maybe that is your style. o   We have a threshold of when we want to quit and give up on a project.  o   I face it often. I want to get to the next FUN project.  o   Don’t let the one you are working with beat you… Or come to grips with it and move on, don’t let it linger. o   You need more victories and not so many defeats. o   Editing your project may give you the victory you need. o     o   I often say that if I don’t like it, I will paint over it. That rarely happens. Usually, I’ll just make subtle edits to the project to solve the issue o   Be sure that you aren’t under  o   stress,  o   pressure,  o   or lack of time.  o   You’ll most likely find that you won’t be creating your best work. Support the show

    16 min
  3. Balance in Life

    03/28/2022

    Balance in Life

    Balance ·      In this episode, I want to not only discuss balance, but I find it important to talk about goals or purpose. ·      This is one of the top topics that affect all of us.  ·      Where in the world do we find time to do furniture life ·      We all would say we are already busy ·      I find the most likely reason we have this topic crosses our minds is that we are looking to do more.  ·      Where does the more come from? ·      Over the past 5–6 years I have gone round and round with the concept of going full-time with furniture, and I must admit the conversation in my head doesn’t happen as much of late, here’s why o   I have come to grips that I like my secure life with benefits, retirement, steady paycheck.  o   There is no doubt to be successful in the furniture artist life, you need multiple streams of income. That takes time. o   I am actively pushing efforts to multiple areas. 1. Youtube  2. Multiple Booths 3. My overall brand   4. This podcast   and more ·      So, for us to talk about Balance, it’s critical for you to decide what it is you need to balance. ·      My last statement is critical because if you look at the mountain of work ahead of you, I will be honest and tell you that you don’t have time. ·      You need a reason to sacrifice time and other things you enjoy. ·      It comes down to that. Sacrifice. ·      There is no reason to pressure yourself into sacrificing time if it won’t get you to your goals. ·      What are your goals? ·      If you aren’t sure where things are headed, then take it slow. You’ll never get where you need to be tomorrow. Rome wasn’t built in a day. ·      When I started, I had no idea why I was painting furniture. It’s taken a long time to find what I can handle and what I can’t. ·      Honestly, please don’t try to set goals if you are just starting out, have fun, make sure fun is there. Without fun, the rest won’t matter.  ·      Your passion will drive you to put in the time, make the sacrifice, and ignore the pain. ·      Balance— o   Here is how I look at projects and get them done. §  One step at a time. §  No matter what happens, when you do one step at a time, it’s going to get done. §  A lot of the furniture art process is that there are many steps and often time is critical between these steps. §  I recommend having multiple projects if you want to fill time. o   Then—get ready to have complete pieces. What will you do with them next? o   You’ll have all your pieces in your home that you want to be done, then you’ll be looking for other things to paint. —that’s great ·      Overall— o   Take breaks o   Have variety o   Family first o   Have fun o   Start slow and easy o   Don’t let others push you to not follow your passion o   Define you o   You will never be someone else—be inspired by but don’t duplicate Support the show

    21 min
  4. Studio Space

    03/21/2022

    Studio Space

    Studio Space How’s your studio space looking? Are you ready to get one set up?  With any creative space, they typically take on the needs of your creative style. The number one goal of any space is efficiency. If you can’t access what you need quickly, you are making extra work and then there is less time to be creative and do your craft. I have been painting furniture for almost 6 years at this point and I am happy to share more about my space. My studio is a converted, enclosed porch with central air. There are key pieces of furniture that I use, you may need more depending on what you do. ·       A desk. I use a Jacobean dining table that I bought at a thrift store for $15. It’s in rough shape but it’s perfect since I don’t care if it gets paint on it and there’s a lot of space. I actually have an IKEA shelf on its side to add organization and height. My computer, extra monitor, light, and other tech items are also on this desk. ·       Storage cabinet or dresser. I have an Ethan Allen dresser that I had to replace a couple wide drawers and make them storage spaces with baskets. ·       Shelf or cabinet for paint ·       Work table—I have 2 small folding tables, one square one, and one wide one. Options. • Don't forget about a good chair You need room for furniture. Size of the furniture is up to you—haha. Things in my dresser ·       Tools ·       Sanding items ·       Small clamps ·       Pads, felt, glides ·       Heat gun ·       Small knobs ·       Furniture wax ·       Touch up pens ·       Screwdrivers, needle nose pliers, small hammers, pliers,  ·       Skewers, mixing sticks ·       Can openers I have 3 stand adjustable lights. (see my website amazon page for the link to the lights I use) Rolling cart Brush Holders Screws and other small fasteners Small organization cart Extension cords Hanging organization—something I am working to add. Carts—lots of them. Sounds—Music Maybe some LED lights—add some fun and energy to your space Diffuser Collectables Room for others to join you and hang out. Support the show

    20 min
  5. Paint What You Love

    03/14/2022

    Paint What You Love

    ·      White, Cream, Gray—that’s what sells—right? ·      If you are making a living and killing it, and you love that, then you are good to go  ·      Is that what you want to do? ·      Are you just going through the motions? ·      Consider diversifying your portfolio. There’s can be a balance of making money, selling furniture the public wants, and then also painting what inspires you. Find that balance of keeps your customers happy and maybe find new customers. ·      If you go all in, you could alienate yourself from the customers. You’ll find out quickly, painfully possibly. You may need an online market for your creative approach and style—which is totally fine too. ·      Find the customer that loves you. Or create more to love. ·      You can find a balance. ·      Make sure you give yourself an opportunity to love what you do Pitfalls ·      You are pressured into doing what others are doing —pier pressure ·      you think others expect you to do? ·      you are just keeping up with what others are also doing. ·      Yesterday I walked through the business where one of my booths is located. It’s always good to keep up with what is going around you, pricing, colors, styles, etc. ·      This can be even evident doing commissioned work. o   They want the normal looks o   They want the hard looks outside of your skillset o   You really want to please the client ·      It’s possible you are in the early stages of your creative development, and you aren’t sure what you want to do yet Support the show

    20 min
  6. Meeting and Picking up Furniture

    03/07/2022

    Meeting and Picking up Furniture

    When you agree to purchase furniture on your favorite sale site like Marketplace. It’s time to go get the piece. Maybe you are even at a garage sale or estate sale. Are you ready to take a piece home? Here are some items to have ready ·      We have a tool bag. It is also what we take when we go fluff or work in our booth. ·      In the bag o   tape measure o   flathead (antique screws) o Phillip's head o   Screwdriver with the ability to change bits o   Scissors o   Small drill o   Markers o   Tape o   Small hammer o   Box Cutter ·      Blankets ·      Plastic wrap ·      Plastic bag or container for screws ·      Back brace or support brace ·      Gloves? ·      Shoulder Dolly Moving Straps  ·      Cash? ·      If go to an estate sale, make sure to bring a copy of your tax-exempt form Meeting ·      Communicate o   What time you can be there o   Be flexible o   Provide ETAs  Use maps o   Let them know you are there o   If you have a trailer—where can you park and how will you get out  o   Be super polite o   Realize they aren’t comfortable for you to be there o   The piece you are buying may be special to them o   Easy on the questions o   Don’t be in a hurry o   Scope out how you might need to get it out of the home Second level  stairs  tight turns  ramps Floor condition Gravel Sand Grass   Overall, be prepared. Think it through  Support the show

    25 min
  7. Branding Your Business

    02/28/2022

    Branding Your Business

    Branding ·      So, you are ready to get serious with your craft. ·      You want to start social media platforms, get some business cards, maybe even a booth space. What is your style, character, business focus? ·      I recommend you write 3 words that describe your business ·      Ex.   Fun, Quirky, Exciting     Casual, Cozy, Country      Classy, Refined, Sharp ·      Consider making a mood board. Maybe a Pinterest board. What does your business look like?   Name ·      I am sure you are wondering—what in the world should I name my business. ·      What’s in a name anyway? ·      Be able to tell your story in your name. ·      Does the name require learning to know what it means? ·      Have a reason? ·      Search social platforms and the internet to see if others are using your business name as well. ·      abbreviations Design ·      Why does a good logo matter? ·      A logo and brand design are the face of your brand ·      The colors ·      Typeface ·      Textures ·      Shapes ·      and more ·      Where to get a good logo? o   Start local—build a relationship, with someone that can understand what you are trying to accomplish, what you need to do with your brand o   There are affordable online options, but they won’t have a passion for your business. o   A professional or experienced designer should provide the critical options you need for the work you need to do. o   Options like Dark, light, transparent, scalable, stacked, wide Support the show

    25 min
  8. Thrift Store Project Furniture Shopping

    02/21/2022

    Thrift Store Project Furniture Shopping

    Thrift store shopping ·      Advantages o   Safe o   Regular hours o   Get to know the Manager—make a deal. Not long ago, I bought 5 pieces. o   No Pressure o   They Help Load ·      Inspect o   Low quality—be prepared for extra work o   Watch for damage o   Missing hardware—be creative with other items that might match o   I don’t like that they often store the pieces on their ends and use hand carts to move them around o   Be sure to check for smells, odors, stains, water damage o   Always look at the back. ·      Tips o   I often see the prices set but the idea in retail is to list it high so there’s profit on sale days so…. Wait for the days when furniture is on sale o   Caution—there’s a mental/internal urge to buy. Discipline yourself—go often and you’ll get better at it over time. o   Follow them on social media o   Keep an eye on the competition in the store—it happens—have a good chat but don’t get in the way o   Look at the tags for names of who is buying —might be able to meet others in your community o   Come prepared to load a piece of furniture o   Walk around 2–3 times. Support the show

    27 min
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Experiences, community, and challenges in Life that furniture artists all go through on a daily basis. If you love brushes and paint, … and furniture is your canvas!!!—you’re in the right place.

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