A Mug ShotLoco on Leather

About

My name is Dallas Nyberg, I am 40 something and it is said that I could talk under 20 feet of wet cement with a mouthfull of unpeeled oranges. It is also said that I do not listen, but I have never actually heard anyone say that.
My passion in life is my art and I work at it 7 days a week. I do a variety of different types of art, which include, Pyrography, Airbrush, Leather Carving, Acrylics, Oils, Pastels and Colored Pencil.
I operated my own Leathergoods business "BEVEL 'N' BRUSH" for many years and have, just recently, closed it down in an effort to give myself more studio time. I work from home and teach at art workshops in Taree a couple of nights a week.
I do a lot of commissioned work and really enjoy the challenge of new concepts and ideas that the customer may have.
The main crux of my work these days is utilising the art of Pyrography. I had never heard of Pyrography until 1991, when a woodturner friend of mine showed me a Pyrography machine and asked if it would work on leather. I had no idea, so he lent me the machine for a few days. By the end of that week, there was scarcely a piece of leather in my workshop that was not pyrographed......I was hooked!

I like a challenge and portrait work is that and a bit more, as there is no room for artistic license doing them. I also like Aussie landscape pictorials, particularly with a colonial theme. Trains and old machinery are quite a test to do as well, they require a lot of research and reference material before you can tackle them.
Basically, if if interests me enough, I will give it a go.
I have had no Art training whatsoever, everything I do is self taught. In hindsight, I would not really recommend this system of learning to a budding artist. I would suggest they get some tutoring, particularly in technique. It is near impossible to teach someone to draw, but it is easy to teach someone how to use the tools and materials they require. The actual Art must come from within.
A couple of great artists and their styles have influenced me and my work, the great American illustrator Norman Rockwell, Australia's Eric Jolliffe and Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira. These people have the "WOW" factor in their work... when you see it, you will say......WOW!

Another huge influence on me was a gentleman by the name of Jim Maudsley. Jim taught me most of my leather techniques and, more importantly, he taught me to be me. This man was amazing, he could create anything the customer wanted and he never referenced anything from books or patterns. The reason was quite simple, he was illiterate and could scarcely write his own name. When I questioned how he achieved such a high standard in his work without book reference at least, he simply said "You can learn anything you want, as long as your prepared to look, ask and listen"
Jim had a lot of strong and rational thinking on being good at what you do. I remember asking him once about a repair job a customer had bought in. I aked how good does the customer want the job done?.....big mistake! Jim reeled around and snorted... "As good as you would expect it done for you!" .... nuff said.
He also told me the right formula for success with your work. He told me that to do your work just for the money is foolishness... you must do it because you love it, if you love it, then you will do it well. Work that comes from the heart is easy to sell.
He might have been illiterate, but he was the smartest person I have ever met.


On my Site you will find a lot of examples of the things I do and things my partner, Margie B does as well.... she is a very talented lady.

Enjoy your visit with us and drop by anytime you like. I will be adding interesting things to the site every now and then.
All the Best
Dallas
Clivk on Images for larger view
Myself & Margie B.
Me & Margie B
A few years ago in Taree

Me taken around 1990
at the old Bevel 'N' Brush
workshop in Taree

Artist, Eric Jolliffe

Eric Jolliffe
holding his much deserved
Stanley Award
for Excellence in
Black and White Illustration.

Eric's work inspired me to pursue my passion for art.

one of Eric's great 'toons

One of Eric's wonderful
"Saltbush Bill" illustrations.
Eric has created hundreds of illustrations like this.
They gently poke fun at an era that is, sadly, long gone.

Click to visit Margie B's Page

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