Artist/Craftsman Statement
Hello, I’m Jason, a craftsman creating functional pieces of art with wood and steel. Since 2016 my need for a creative outlet led me to designing and making commissioned pieces through my sole proprietor small business, VPWdesigns. Prior to starting the business, foundational skills building via some formal schooling and informal hands-on studio time were my concentrations for approximately ten years. During that time I experimented with technique and design in personal projects, gained confidence in my woodworking and metalworking skills, and got a taste of what it was like to create for myself and also through the eyes of others with commissioned projects.
My small business is a wonderful outlet that allows creative freedom. I am grateful for every client that has requested Eryn and I to build a project to help make their lives a little better, or at least a wee more aesthetically interesting. It can be a challenge bringing another person’s artistic vision to physical fruition but I love the composing process, meeting diverse clients, seeing their homes, sometimes their personal spaces before and after the project is installed. Some are seemingly basic built-in storage and organizing units (always with an artistic flair because I can’t help myself, sometimes on the sly, sometimes up front and center) and some are stand alone pieces that tip the balance in favor of art over function which I thoroughly enjoy. VPWdesigns is a source for my community to work with an artistic craftsman to create meaningful pieces that enrich everyday spaces. I’m grateful it has provided me opportunities to develop foundational skills while sidelining my true passion of creating art pieces full time.
Engineer/Designer Statement
Hello, I’m Eryn, an engineer with a love for aesthetic and functional design. I’ve spent most of my professional career as a facility engineer- working on projects for buildings, industrial facilities, and water and wastewater projects. My expansion into furniture and built-in design allowed me to utilize my problem solving and technical experience while also dipping into a pool of artistic design that I had not fully explored before. I love that every project has unique problems to be solved, and each space has unique potential to be improved upon through an iterative design process with each other and our clients. I find deep satisfaction in making spaces more enjoyable, functional, and interesting to live in.
Vigo approves. : )