Our latest featured artisan interview is with Tim Combs of the Reclamation Project.
The Reclamation Project began when Tim realized his basement was filled with strange stuff he'd found on the street and in dumpsters. This led him to commit to bringing bits of nature BACK to your yard by creating garden accoutrements from reclaimed materials.
Visit Tim's website.
Check out his Etsy shop.
Become a fan of the Reclamation Project on Facebook.
Eternity Garden Sign made from reclaimed cedar fencing.
Q: If you are not a native of Portland - what drew you to this city?
A: I came to Portland in the late '90s because I was struck by the natural beauty, the friendliness of the people, and the tolerance of the working culture. I had come from Kansas City where I found it harder to be myself and wanted to live some place that would allow me to be me.
Hunting Heron garden art made from reclaimed cedar fencing.
Q: Are you a full-time artist, or do you have other jobs as well? If you are not a full-time artist, is that something you would like to be some day? Why or why not? How possible is it that you will be able to go full time?
A: I'm not a full-time artist, I also work in a plant nursery and I grow organic catnip on the side for pet food stores. I tell lots of people that ask that I do a lot of things part time, but all the part times seem to add up more than my old full-time job lifestyle.
I really hope to make art full-time someday. I'm still figuring things out, training myself as I go, so hopefully I'll find what avenue of creativity will support me without having to have a boss other than myself. I do know that I'm not going to stop being an artist and that's what helps to keep me focused on my goal of self-sufficiency.
Q: How are you evolving your business practices to grow with the explosive trend of selling handmade items online? Do you sell online or are you planning to?
A: I do sell online, but I haven't really been that successful at it, so I haven't put as much time into it as I probably should be to be more successful. What I do see is that there is a tension between wanting to make what I want to make and then working hard at finding the specific market for those items and picking a market (in this case online) and making items that sell well in that market. If anything, my approach to marketing is changing because of my experiences with online sales.
Three Little Birds, carved from reclaimed bamboo plyboard.
Q: What are your business goals this year? What challenges do you face? Do you feel that you have the resources to meet those challenges?
A: I had hoped to sell more this year than last year, but with the downturn of the economy I'm seeing less sales than last year. So I'm using the extra time to work on some more functional items - candle lanterns, furniture - and trying to get into more gallery shows with my larger work. Each year seems to be different from the last and I find that spending less time struggling against the trends helps me move forward toward my goals.
Q: Please share any recent press or publicity you've received, or any success stories related to your art and/or your business.
A: On May 30th I spoke at the 2009 City of Portland Economic Opportunity Initiative (EOI) Graduation Ceremony. In attendance was Portland Mayor Sam Adams, some council members from Minneapolis/St. Paul and a number of individuals, like myself, who were graduating from the three-year program which helps youths and adults with transitional job training and folks starting their own microenterprises. I spoke about my experiences with Trillium as they receive funding from the EOI.
Q: How has Trillium helped to make a difference in your life?
A: Trillium's ease at helping me, their lack of didacticism, so I figure out what they are trying to tell me at their own pace, has made a world of difference. I know that because of their support that I can be an artist, that I will attain my goals, that I will continue to overcome the challenges that arise in the future.
Q: Please share one "green" tip - something that you do either in your business or personal life that is good for the environment.
A: I try to approach "being green" or helping the environment as a way of life, a way of efficiency. So I constantly ask the question, "How can I get what I want in a way that costs less money and uses less power and resources?" Spending the extra 5 or 10 minutes reading or thinking about how you do something using this lens of efficiency will really help you naturally become "greener."
Swallow at Sunset carved from reclaimed wood.
