Pat Beard Wood, metal, drawing While working at a custom millwork shop I started designing and building my own furniture after hours. My heavy coating of dust each day, the owner’s emphysema and his family member’s/coworkers missing fingers convinced me to try another field and I went to college in architecture. I ended up drafting for a manufacturers’ representative of architectural specialties for five years as the economy cycled and taking courses in jewelry making, photography, and other arts to engage my creative side in spare time. The photography later came close to becoming a career path as I won several awards in competitions and juried into several art festivals. During this time I discovered the exhibition business as I went to work for an industrial design company that made tradeshow booths, museum exhibits, and visitor center displays, among other projects. Moving to a small startup exhibit company allowed me to start as a fabricator, move into graphics and become a full time designer over the first 18 months. Interesting design projects included retail, salons, sales offices for real estate developments, visitor centers, product displays, lots of tradeshow booths and even a fountain over 6 years working for that company. Several years later, while operating my own small cabinet/display shop, I met my wife (to be) and moved to follow her career. Locally, I’ve made a few stage sets for a small theater company and enjoyed incorporating murals and art into the backdrops when appropriate. |
 |
         |
|