Several years ago downtown St.Louis , I was working on a job site with a good friend of mine. We were installing some water piping, for a large hotel. At the time, I had always hurried and rushed through projects, not concerning myself about the way things looked behind the walls. He simply looked at what I was doing and said …………………”why don’t you make it look like artwork” and then walked away.

  Yes, I am a plumber by trade, and that day made me think of not just my workmanship but much more. I started to look at things a little differently and why things were the way they were. Most plumbers are artists in their own way, but there are a few people like myself who tend to take this a bit further. People, who know me, know I am a perfectionist.

Friends have often said my workshop floor is so clean you could eat off of it, well I still wouldn’t!

  I have always had the knack of being able to decorate, design and place things in their proper way. Some people know this as good “feng shui “ . My hobby is copper artwork and the best way I know how to give back to my community and beyond is to imagine, create, and donate.   We have all seen those late night paid programming commercials at 3 a.m. about the sick children at St. Jude’s or starving people in Africa who need our help. I truly think we should all give what we can to those who are in need. I whole heartedly believe if you have a talent or ability, you should use it for the betterment of society. Before we all turned green and Al Gore’s movie came out, I was recycling in my own way. Picking up those loose washers on the job site or figuring out some way to use those old pieces of wood in new projects. One January morning, while experiencing a bit of cabin fever, ( More at www.RefreshingArt.com ) I made my way to my work shop. I had several buckets of scrap copper to play around with. Then it happened; I created one thing, which led to many more. A few weeks later an old friend stopped by and saw what I was up to. She asked me if I could make something for her. Not thinking much of what I had made or really understanding what my friend saw in my work, it was just something to fill a blank space on my bedroom wall. Family members and friends have asked me to make things for them, or suggested I should sell them online. People say you are your own worse critic.

  This statement could not be any truer when it comes to me. ( More at www.RefreshingArt.com ) There are things I have made, that have made it as far as the back of my truck and then to the scrap yard. I believe I have broken that cycle and I now let the public judge my artwork for themselves. “Sometimes you just have to let yourself go …….to find who you really are”.  Look inside yourself and realize like I have, the world is much bigger than ourselves and our day to day problems. There are multiple ways to help. From the boy scouts to starving children and even stray animals in our neighborhood, we all can do much more. It first starts with cleaning out your closet and donating those old clothes to such places like “Feed My People ” in Fenton, Missouri. ( More at www.RefreshingArt.com ) Understand you can make a difference in someone else’s life just by stepping out of your world. Thank you for reading this and looking into your heart for others. If you are interested in any of my artwork, for a charitable event, or are considering something for yourself please feel free to contact me. I do sell pieces of my work from time to time for the sole purpose of keeping my pursuit of this going. I usually have at least five to ten items you can pick from for your charitable event or to purchase. ( More at www.RefreshingArt.com ) Who I'd like to meet:
I would like to meet other people who enjoy donating there time to worthy causes. Some old friend's from Fla. and some New's too.