Meet Erin Bliss of Erin Bliss Artisan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Bliss.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Erin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Chicago’s north suburbs with a fascination for ancient or found objects. At school, I studied to be an interior designer and be a part of the sustainable building movement that is so important today. while in college I worked building theater sets and learned a lot about construction and carpentry. After school, I craved the feeling I got working with my hands which led me to start volunteering at the Rebuilding Exchange.

I learned woodworking and how to identify different kinds of reclaimed wood. Soon after I began teaching and building my own projects. Over the last four years I’ve been developing my practice through the Rebuilding exchange and other jobs and projects and what has organically formed out of it is the ‘lucent wood windows’ that I currently make. They are truly beautiful objects that are made from the scrap wood that the Rebuilding Exchange may not have been able to save. The wood that I find came from a forest that does not exist anymore.

It’s natural properties made it an irresistible commodity to early Americans, as the wood was important for building ships, buildings, turpentine, tar, pitch, and resin. The forest was exploited and almost completely cleared, and now you can only find this historic wood coming out of deconstruction projects. I facilitate a new life for this wood by making them into windows that play with the sun each day just as the tree itself used to.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting my career I was feeling stuck in a design job that I didn’t like or think was important. I had a realization four years ago that I didn’t want to work on the computer anymore and changed my life to become the woodworker and artist that I am today. It wasn’t easy the easy road. I had to really work for it. But for anything that you want in life that is important having to work for it is necessary.

I feel incredibly lucky for the opportunities that I have been given and the mentors I’ve had that have helped me get to a place where I am excited about all of the work that I am doing. I am constantly learning and growing and seeking out new opportunities. Right now I’m learning metalworking and boat building as well as my usual woodworking and art endeavors.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a one-person operation but I have such a wide range of skills that I can pretty much help you with whatever you need. I come from a technical design background and have amassed a lot of fabrication knowledge. I can help you design and build a house. And make beautiful art to help you decorate it.

Right now I am specializing in making ‘lucent wood windows’ and other functional objects and furniture. In March I had a solo art show at OGGI Chicago Gallery where I designed and built everything including the pedestals that held the windows. It was an art installation using only wood and light. Since each window glows differently when backlit. Each guest at the show was invited to play with how light interacts with each piece.

I can confidently say that no one else that I have found is making anything like this. I have developed a truly unique product that inspires awe in and educates anyone who interacts with it. And I am extremely proud and grateful to have had the opportunity to put this most recent show together.

What were you like growing up?
I was always a really excitable and curious kid. I lived my life mostly in my head, wondering about and imagining how the world works and why. I never had an issue with amusing myself. I had a small obsession with ancient Egypt and other very old things and digging up objects in my backyard. I found a piece of pyrite once and thought it was gold. I tried to sell it to my Mom.

I remember loving to explore my grandmother’s house and look at all of her old objects and furniture, looking at the night sky and feeling a deep sense of amazement that I still get today, and looking through old family albums and wondering who they were and what they were like. I’ve always liked to draw and create things. I was always in art classes.

And I still love to explore and find old things and learn about earth’s history and geology and astronomy and whatever else.

Contact Info:

• Website: erin-bliss.squarespace.com
• Email: ebliss.design@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Kate Cescon

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