Getting to Know You

During my first couple of years working on products for BZ FurFur I did work mostly independently. My husband, Brian, would help with the business, the marketing, and the markets but, the process of creating was me, my Razortip, and a blank piece of wood. That was, until, I met a few of my now dear friends. Renee and David of It’s David and Renee and Jessica and Drew of Crowley’s Crafty Creations that I realized how much collaborating on pieces can enrich the things you create.

David and Renee produce wood canvases specifically for pyrographers. They are not the only producers of these. Companies like Walnut Hallow sell blank slabs specifically for artists such as myself. Products from a distributor like WH, however, are standardized and produced in volume. This leaves very little in the way of customization. Having a small, independent shop like It’s David and Renee allows me to discuss with the specific individual who is creating the canvas and explain to them what I am trying to create. We can bounce ideas off each other and come up with truly unique designs.

Jessica, who does Lichtenberg, collaborates with me by creating designs in the wood using high voltage electricity. (warning: Creating fractals using electricity is a dangerous technique. If you do not know how to safely perform this technique I strongly recommend you avoid this and leave it to those who know how to do it safely). By collaborating with Jessica I am able to pitch ideas to her for etching that will blend in with her fractals and she can create designs that integrate seamlessly with my patterns.

Better Together

Over the course of the last several years I have worked extensively with both It’s David and Renee and Crowley’s Crafty Creations. We have created dozens of collaborative pieces. This provides a few unique benefits that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to provide if I simply worked independently on my pieces:

1. Uniqueness: Unlike my earlier pieces that I designed using the standard blanks you would get from Hobby Lobby or Michaels, the foundation of my work are truly one-of-a-kind. Every piece has a specific look to it that can only come from a hand-made canvas.
2. Intrigue: Nothing draws a customer into my booth at a market better than a piece that is on a hand-crafted cherry wood slab or an etching that is centered around a Lichtenberg fractal. It starts conversation, people take time to look at all the different pieces, and, as they say, nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. The more people in my booth appreciating my work the more people who want to come see what the excitement is
3. Value: Any piece that is created collaboratively with other artists is going to be inherently more valuable. Each individuals contribution to the piece adds something extra that makes the piece more desirable and distinct. As such these pieces can be more profitable to you and the artist you worked with and more valuable to the person buying it.

Next time you are at a market, look around at the other vendors around you. Think about how your work can enhance their work and vice-versa. Consider ways to create things together and make something new that people may never has seen before. What is your favorite story of collaborating with another artist? Tag us with your story @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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I was determined to make a few pieces for auction so I created 2 original Mandalas, Floral Dreams and Kaleidoscope, that I burned into decks. I was really proud of them and I knew it was going to a good cause as 100% would go to the families of the kids with disabilities. I am happy to report that they both found good homes and I uncharacteristically approached both winners and asked to take a picture with them. 

My inspiration for Floral dreams were spring meadows and the airy comforts of clouds and daydreams. I colored the flowers and highlights with color-shifting handmade watercolors by Emily Grace Palettes (@mily_grace_palettes). In comparison, Kaleidoscope has intricate shapes and intertwining lines that when you look at closely seem messy and too much. But like life, when you step back you get a clearer picture and you see the harmony and balance of all the lines, curves, and shapes.  I loved creating the Mandalas and truly loved burning them.

Along with the pieces I donated for auction, I created 5 additional original pieces of work.

• The Antidote (oil pencils, sealed with polyurethane): Brian helped me design and create this piece. It prominently displayed a Plague Doctor, flowers, a top hat, and the words “The same ones who sell the panic sell the cure”. This was inspired by the events of 2020 and the chaos of the world during the pandemic. It was a huge hit at SHRED and it too found a home.
• Geometric Dreams: This is another original mandala. It is sharp shapes, with open spaces, reminiscent of geometry and the symmetry of geometric shapes.
• Arms of the Deep (India Ink for vibrant, permanent color, sealed it with polyurethane.): Brian designed this deck. He is a fan of horror and HP Lovecraft. He wanted a piece that reflected the eeriness of the deep and the legend of Cthulhu. I stippled the octopus, rather than shade it, to give it an interesting texture.
• Incandescent: We are a huge fan of Octopi in this house. They are extraordinarily strong and intelligent creatures. They can figure out puzzles and get themselves through holes so small you’d think “Nothing can get through it!” The deck represents perseverance to break free from something that seems impossible, even when you feel it is a losing battle, even when you think you are being chased by arms of darkness.
• Beautiful Afterlife: Death scares many, but it doesn’t always have to. Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of The Dead, is a Mexican holiday that welcomes the souls of loved ones who passed away by offering food, drink, and celebration. I created Beautiful Afterlife as a reminder that death is not the end and that maybe there really is a beautiful afterlife.

Beautiful Afterlife, Geometric Dreams, Arms of the Deep, and Incandescent are still available for sale and we’ll donate 15% of the sale back to SHRED.

The whole event was a blast. Brian got his face painted by the high schoolers raising money for charity. We met a ton of great people and, the biggest surprise, a young girl who was one of the recipients of the surgeries we were raising money for, took a keen interest in my work. Throughout the entire course of the day she hung out, watching me burn, giving me ideas, asking to help, and telling us in great detail her love for 80s hair metal. 

Remember, what you put out into the universe always comes back to you! DO good, and I have faith it will return to you!  And as always; Stay unique!

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