Jan 23, 2015
Jodie Bliss is a Colorado native working out of the small town
of Monument Colorado, nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains.
She holds a B.F.A and M.F.A. in Fine Art Sculpture from Western
State College and the Academy of Art. Jodie’s inspiration
comes primarily from a study of people. Psychology,
sociology, theology and anthropology predominate Jodie’s thoughts,
then she works her magic and turns those thoughts into forged
sculptures. Her business is called the Bliss Studio and Gallery
that holds her well fitted shop and a soon to be public
gallery.
What We Talked
About
·Jodie went to Western
State College in Colorado for the Jewelry program at 18 and was
introduced to welding by a nearby welding shop in Colorado
Springs
·She bought an anvil from David Norrie
and learned that he offered blacksmithing classes, so she ended up
staying there for 4 months learning and creating a large 6 ft tall
sculpture
·Jodie started her LLC business while
she was finishing Grad school, it’s called Bliss Studio and
Gallery
·She tells us about her incredible
shop (I have huge shop envy!)and what it includes: a 4ft, x 4ft CNC
plasma cutter, a Say Mak power hammer, a natural gas forge with a
G-tec natural gas compressor, an oxy/natural gas cutting torch,
treadle hammer, large sandblaster, hydraulic press
·Jodie’s best technique is texturing
the metal using the treadle and many, many texturing hand tools and
then using the brass brush for a finish
·She plans on using her
hydraulic press more and she just bought Randy McDaniel’s
“Hydraulic Forging Press for the Blacksmith”
·She tells us about the
picture she is in with Albert Paley
·Her pricing strategy is
a shop rate that includes her an hourly rate, rent, consumables and
how it helps her sell
·Her selling skills have
improved by participating in festival shows and keeping a journal,
she has experienced that telling stories about her pieces helps
sell them
·She tells us why she
belongs to 4 or 5 different blacksmith associations
·The Bliss Studio and
Gallery business has many facets and brings in income from private
commissions, making plasma cut signs and going to festivals and
setting up a booth
·She writes a business plan every 6
months!
Guest Links
Website – http://www.artbybliss.com/
Facebook – Bliss Studio and Gallery business page –
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bliss-Studio-and-Gallery/197163753670809?sk=info&tab=overview
Facebook personal page - https://www.facebook.com/blissjodie
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