john t. unger studio

BottleCap Fish Mosaic No. 50

Click the image to enlarge.

This was a commissioned piece and is one of my favorites I've ever done. The breast fin is an antique spatula I've been saving for at least five years just for this purpose. The other fins are cut from a tin shovel for fireplaces (the corrugated edges were perfect for the dorsal fin). The tail is a flattened rake. Caps are Bell's Oberon and Heineken.

I've been wanting to use the Oberon caps for a long time… they're a gorgeous color and I like the yellow sun design. Be sure to look at them close up by clicking "all sizes" and selecting the original size. One of the things that's coolest about making these is the always unexpected way that the caps look once they've been set close. It's always so much more vibrant than the way they look scattered.

Question the Rules: Punk rock tools for your DIY business and life

I just got an email through Etsy's convo system that really makes my day. This is why I put the time in to share what I know with other artists and try to help them be successful as well.

I recently did an interview with Johnny B. Truant for his new course, Question the Rules. The email (quoted below) is about that interview, but the whole course is pretty frickin' amazing.

The idea behind Question the Rules is about how being an entrepreneur or doing your own thing requires a certain punk rock, rebellious spirit. But what's useful about the course is that it teaches you a set of tools that makes it possible to do your own thing and actually make it work instead of just being the guy who dropped out and wound up bitter and alone on the streets. The tools make all the difference. As Johnny says:

We created Question the Rules: The nonconformist’s punk rock, DIY, nuts-and-bolts guide to creating the business and life you really want, starting with what you already have by reverse-engineering the tools we use every day — the ones that sit inside of our own personal anarchist’s toolboxes.

We can give you those tools. We can teach you how to use them. And we’ve also interviewed a bunch of master craftsmen (read: “awesomely successful people”) who were willing to toss a few of their best tools into the box as well.

At the end of today, the launch price of $97 goes up to $397. So today is the day to get in. I wouldn't bother telling you about it unless I thought the course totally rocked. And I do think so.

I liked what Johnny and Lee created so much that I even gave them a bonus to pass on to people who do buy the course— Everyone who orders Question the Rules will get a coupon code that gives them 20% off on the purchase of a Great Bowl O' Fire Firebowl. So actually, if you were thinking of getting a firebowl, you'd save money if you bought the course today.

Here's the full email that not only made my day but inspired me to get off my ass and write about why I think you should actually order Question the Rules:

Hi John, I'm Adam

I realize this is coming right out of the blue but right now I feel compelled to reach out...so I'm going to tell you a little story, I hope you can bare with me.

Just yesterday I bought an information product called Question the Rules. now I bought this product because the style resonated with me on various levels, Non conformist unconventional yada yada yada...

So I was listening to the interviews in succession and the third interview was with you, now I was more acutely paying attention to this interview because it said you are an artist...which I think I am also.

Now although your name seemed familiar to me it was when you started talking about your fire bowls that I rushed over to Etsy to look at my favourites list and made the connection, you were one of the first artists on Etsy I had reserved in my favourites list, if not for the reason that you weren't a painter or doing any of the commonly found art on Etsy and were working more in the sculptural 3D world.

Anyway I listened to that interview twice tonight and wanted to tell you that it has really given me a great new perspective for my current position in life.

I used to be a freelance costume maker living in Australia, but after almost 10 years of being stuck in one warehouse or another working on films and theatre for 60, 70, 80 hours a week or having no job at all, I decided it wasn't for me any more and quit my job; then on a bit of a whim I moved to Japan...

Currently I teach English; one of the few Jobs an Aussie can do here with out Japanese language skills. While doing this I am experimenting with different options and looking for an area I an interested in and can use the skills I already have but in a more creative satisfying way.

So I guess what I am trying to get out is that everyone has told me I'm crazy and that I can't do it, this or that and I have to say I was beginning to believe them but you have given me new perspective.

I am an artist, I am lost and I'm still finding my way and I realize now that, that is OK.

Thank you so much

Adam

Check out Adam's Monsterosity Etsy shop to see what he's making. I really like the Carnival Girls section, especially Blue Cat and Polka Dot Mouse.

Thanks, Adam, for letting me know you found the interview inspiring. I'm glad you haven't let the doubters sucker you into giving up. After all, what's so amazing about what they're doing, if it's just playing it safe with the status quo? I hope you'll keep me posted as you progress.

Note: the links to Question the Rules are affiliate links, meaning that I do earn a commission on sales of the course. I'm required to disclose that, but if you'd rather not click the affiliate link you can go directly to http://questiontherules.com.

Fountain with Great Bowl O' Fire firebowl

This stone and glass fountain in San Clemente, CA shows that you can have it all… a stunning water feature crowned by live fire. Day or night, fire brings a lively focus to this water feature, combining two of the most primal elements. Even I was amazed when I saw the photos of the finished project. When David first showed me the drawings for his project I was excited and pleased to help make this dream a reality. I can't wait to do more projects like this one!

Help 2 Succeed Blogtalkradio Interview

First, they say "you'll never make a living as an artist." When you do, they say you've "sold out."

Sharon Beth interviews me about tips for artists to succeed, how to price art and calculate overhead, how to handle rejection or people who tell you you won't succeed, how to find your market and other ideas.

Best Tweets of 2009

I spent New Year's day going back and re-reading all the tweets I wrote in 2009, from top to bottom. It was kind of an interesting way to review the year and see where I'd been and what I'd been thinking about. There were so many big events this year that a lot of the comparatively smaller events and ideas had been completely lost in the shuffle (or would have been, if not for Twitter). I use BackUpMyNet to archive all my tweets, which made the whole process much easier. I can view everything on one page there, rather than constantly having to hit the "more" button on Twitter. I'll definitely make this an annual review, I think… I can't think of any other medium (email, journals, letters, etc.) that could realistically be reviewed at end of year. Looking at the whole year through Twitter definitely gave me some strong ideas about what I do and don't want to focus on in 2010.

Below are the "Best of" tweets from 2009. The ones which either made me laugh, made me think or just struck me as interesting on some level. Hope you enjoy them. I organized them chronologically (oldest to newest) since some required two or three parts.

• When people say "I'm bored" replace the word bored with boring. Thu Jan 01 05:50:27 +0000 2009
• I'd like to create a font called mimeo that only displays/prints in purple. Thu Jan 01 17:31:03 +0000 2009
• How to get things done: make choices. live with the results or start over. Sun Jan 11 00:42:48 +0000 2009
• If you're not dead you can do whatever the fuck you want. If you are dead, you probably don't need to worry about it. So do stuff. Sun Jan 11 00:56:25 +0000 2009
• Her: "what's good for the goose is good for the gander" Me: "But I'm a chicken." Sun Jan 11 18:53:09 +0000 2009
• Accidental beauty IS my metier. Fri Jan 16 19:23:30 +0000 2009
• "You know, deep people are just as full of shit as Shallow people." - @MarcieVargas. I always knew that, but it's nice to hear it just said. Sat Jan 17 00:00:38 +0000 2009
• Ownership is bondage. Bondage can be nice, but you need a safe word. Mine is "mortgage default." Mon Jan 19 20:51:33 +0000 2009
• Scorpions apparently fluoresce under UV light. So, I'm picturing a black light for the yard and picking them off with my BB pistol. Tue Jan 20 23:06:47 +0000 2009
• There's little more satisfying than using evil powers in the service of good and justice. Sat Jan 31 03:10:24 +0000 2009
• @PaulGrahamRaven LOVE your typo "make a pint of." So many points are made over pints that it makes perfect sense to say it that way. Mon Feb 02 02:35:03 +0000 2009
• You're not a bad person, you just have bad aim! Fri Feb 06 17:59:29 +0000 2009
• You know how cats are mostly evil but sometimes affectionate? It's because the friction of petting them recharges their evil batteries. Fri Feb 13 01:01:14 +0000 2009
• Just realized how much life has changed since I was a poet. When @neilhimself mentioned a friend's script, I first thought code not writing. Mon Feb 16 20:24:42 +0000 2009
• I am always surprised when people are surprised when I do things. Fri Feb 20 03:41:31 +0000 2009
• Why can't I have an air horn that also sprays mace? There are applications… Thu Mar 05 02:58:36 +0000 2009
• Was trying to say Russian Constructivism and it came out "constructivision." That's my new movement, I guess, Constructivision. Sun Mar 08 17:18:37 +0000 2009
• Just invented phrase "attention spam" only to google it and see that I'm way late for that. Sometimes google takes the fun out of neologism. Sun Mar 08 17:30:37 +0000 2009
• Cooter holland, Keizer Wilson, marie lepanto... All the exits in arkansas sound like porn star names Wed Mar 11 07:19:07 +0000 2009
• If I wanted to think about it, I'd do it myself. Sat Mar 14 01:24:57 +0000 2009
• OH If I can't laugh at me, I can't laugh at you @gapingvoid Sat Mar 14 23:10:21 +0000 2009
• I didn't need to know that… So I shared it with you! Wed Mar 18 01:51:48 +0000 2009
• When people ask why the end of my left thumb is missing, I tell them I lost it in the 1st dot com crash. true story, abbreviated for clarity Wed Mar 18 04:03:02 +0000 2009
• Be your own hero. Sat Mar 21 22:46:26 +0000 2009
• I wonder if anyone ever successfully backs away from the ledge once they've lived at the edges of civilization? Sun Mar 22 16:05:23 +0000 2009
• Converting knowlege to instinct is like the muscle memory that comes from physical practise in craft or sports. Sun Mar 22 17:00:24 +0000 2009
• It's important to do the detailed research first, to gain an understanding of the underlying structures and patterns. Sun Mar 22 17:05:36 +0000 2009
• This chain of thought came from knowing that all the trees in KS + OK were planted, not native, just by looking at them. Pattern was off. Sun Mar 22 17:09:38 +0000 2009
• So I can't always tell you WHY I know what I know, but that's why I'm in arts not academia. My goal is to change, subvert or exploit pattern Sun Mar 22 17:29:03 +0000 2009
• When most artists say they are "on fire" they mean inspired. When metalworkers say it, we mean that we are ON FIRE! Tue Mar 24 21:12:26 +0000 2009
• I wish more people could force an equation between doable and enjoyable. As in: I enjoy what I do and do what I enjoy. Wed Mar 25 04:32:38 +0000 2009
• I just think it's interesting that anti-smoking intolerance has reached a point where people leave the INTERNET if you light a smoke. funny. Fri Apr 03 00:10:09 +0000 2009
• Me: so I get write off the full cost of the building instead of amortizing because I didn't put it up. WTF? Her: it's a tax shelter! Sat Apr 04 22:45:38 +0000 2009
• @gapingvoid RE: art. Theory is a shortcut. It can help you cut to the chase when you're looking to break new ground. Wed Apr 08 05:02:44 +0000 2009
• Miracles are easy. It's the day to day living that can get hard. Thu Apr 09 05:49:15 +0000 2009
• Translate the eternal into the contemporary. Sun Apr 12 23:47:52 +0000 2009
• @lisacall The number of times I could have died as a kid is roughly = to the times I didn't die as an adult, thanks to practice back then. Mon Apr 13 18:33:15 +0000 2009
• @jonathanmead Most strengths + weakness are context-dependent. For instance, it's bad to talk loudly in a theatre. Unless you're on stage. Wed Apr 15 23:00:47 +0000 2009
• @apelad I think that the mineral name amirite should be reserved for the philosopher's stone. Sun Apr 19 03:11:56 +0000 2009
• personal theory: the less you want to talk about something in a relationship, the more important it probably is to do so. Sun Apr 19 22:12:46 +0000 2009
• There's typecasting and then there's archetypecasting. Mon Apr 27 21:18:49 +0000 2009
• You know what worries me about twitter? That we'll exhaust every pun in the English language at an accelerated rate and have no new jokes. Tue Apr 28 16:22:26 +0000 2009
• The internet may well be my primary medium, despite all the physical art I make. Thu Apr 30 03:38:14 +0000 2009
• Amused by the idea of trying to stuff an actual ghost down a Disposall. Thu Apr 30 09:16:52 +0000 2009
• The weak keep unfollowing me. Fortunately, so many more of you are brave and strong. Sat May 02 18:14:57 +0000 2009
• If you choose the right customers, only THEN is the customer always right. Sun May 03 16:54:24 +0000 2009
• Just had an insight while explaining Twitter to a newbie: Twitter replies are peer-reviewed conversation. Mon May 04 18:45:12 +0000 2009
• The common denominator of human nature is the desire to transcend human nature. Tue May 05 03:45:30 +0000 2009
• @mrjackolson Everyone wants to be more than they are… a lover, a hero, a star, a force of nature, a god, a better rodeo rider, invincible. Tue May 05 03:52:36 +0000 2009
• Commuting against traffic, counter to the conventional flow, leaves the road clear ahead and speed traps pointed away from us. Tue May 05 03:56:02 +0000 2009
• It may not be going too far to say that in some very fundamental ways, you are what you speak. Tue May 05 03:57:21 +0000 2009
• There is no "no." Tue May 05 03:59:49 +0000 2009
• Plans are fictions. Tue May 05 04:00:04 +0000 2009
• “The Way that can be spoken is not the Way.”—Lao Tzu “If you have to ask, you’ll never know.”—Duke Ellington “Whatever.”—anonymous Tue May 05 04:01:09 +0000 2009
• Hey, just had a thought. We have a "social contract" right? What's the "social media contract?" Discuss. I'll check back later. Tue May 05 04:30:24 +0000 2009
• My pacifist tendencies are tempered with anarchy + apocalypse, which is *exactly* why I'm oddly skilled at diplomacy. Tue May 05 05:24:51 +0000 2009
• If your life isn't making you happy, then no matter how hard it is to change, it's much harder to stay the same. Tue May 05 23:04:11 +0000 2009
• Norse Mythology eventually died out because many are cold but few are frozen. Thu May 07 00:32:08 +0000 2009
• Knowing your mountains can sometimes keep you from getting lost! Sat May 09 19:01:50 +0000 2009
• Safety, security is a lie. Ain't no such thing. The world plays rough, for keeps, + believing in safety is the first step to dying horribly. Sun May 10 06:48:23 +0000 2009
• I'm always more comfortable in a precarious situation. Wed May 13 01:05:59 +0000 2009
• Nothing in the middle matters. Thu May 14 04:14:29 +0000 2009
• I think nature's a great idea, but just not in *my* backyard. Fri May 22 15:59:01 +0000 2009
• The words we use at home are usually 4 letters or 5+ syllables. On twitter, I use fewer syllables. 'cause, you know, character count. Thu May 28 05:23:44 +0000 2009
• @AdamKingStudio I've been making it up as I go along for ages… I just try to repeat the successes and scrap the mistakes. Fri May 29 04:10:30 +0000 2009
• @AdamKingStudio Assuming I can figure out which parts work and which don't (which is a big assumption + you know what they say about those). Fri May 29 04:11:26 +0000 2009
• When we get to Texas, I want to raise cattle… from the dead. Fri May 29 06:22:06 +0000 2009
• I try really hard to make people happy. Starting with myself. Fri May 29 07:28:00 +0000 2009
• What's weird about time is how it never takes time off. It just keeps incrementally accruing. That kind of consistency is unnatural. Fri May 29 07:34:04 +0000 2009
• Yay! I just coined the word Prophylactweet for safe twitter practices! Sat May 30 00:56:16 +0000 2009
• I accomplished my lofty, unreasonable + impossible goals today. My goals tonight are much simpler, darker and attainable. Thu Jun 04 03:28:49 +0000 2009
• I was asked why I don't have more art "poor people can afford." Answer: I used to, but I got tired of being poor myself. Fri Jun 05 05:22:10 +0000 2009
• If time really is the fourth dimension, then I must be entirely 3 dimensional. Time plays no determinate role in my existence. Tue Jun 09 01:55:15 +0000 2009
• Impossibility is an illusion. Wed Jun 10 17:04:10 +0000 2009
• @annaleekeefer The world ends every second. It begins again every second. It's always ending and beginning again. No big deal at all. Sat Jun 13 16:08:39 +0000 2009
• when the world is stacked against you, it is your duty to tip the motherfucker over. Sat Jun 13 17:00:05 +0000 2009
• Wisdom without profanity is shit. Sat Jun 13 18:19:08 +0000 2009
• @austinkleon Best Jott typo ever was "Funky. Boom. Nothing to see, no astronaut by the side of the road." Mon Jun 22 21:28:26 +0000 2009
• All day it was "hot and sticky and intolerable." Put a little liquor in me, and now suddenly it's "tropical." Funny how that works. Thu Jun 25 00:06:09 +0000 2009
• I do not require all my truths to be mutually contradictory. Fri Jun 26 17:21:38 +0000 2009
• Fear is thinking you have an answer when you haven't really done anything to get one. Fri Jun 26 17:26:32 +0000 2009
• Life *is* pointless, but so what? Fri Jun 26 17:27:29 +0000 2009
• We take a story and we tell it wrong until it makes us happy. #creativeprocess Fri Jun 26 17:27:58 +0000 2009
• The only good morning is a dead morning. Tue Jun 30 15:47:53 +0000 2009
• I have natural defenses against all disasters. I defeat them with miracles. Thu Jul 02 03:59:25 +0000 2009
• Miracles are the unlikely results of hard work, cleverness and perspective which allow me to defeat disaster on exponential levels. Thu Jul 02 04:00:49 +0000 2009
• It would be fun to add dots to the painted stripes on Highways so that the roads all told stories in Morse code. Sun Jul 05 17:26:11 +0000 2009
• I am washing the taste of lamp oil out of my mouth by drinking absinthe from the bottle. This is best practices for firebreathing. Fri Jul 17 01:25:00 +0000 2009
• I believe in ghosts and Gods but refuse to take them any more seriously than other parts of nature. Sat Jul 18 22:20:32 +0000 2009
• They're just fancy animals, man. Tricky fancy animals. Sat Jul 18 22:22:15 +0000 2009
• Anything I say after midnight eastern time should be taken with a rim of salt. Sun Jul 26 04:07:20 +0000 2009
• Contributing to the culture I consume would feel like paying the bills, except I like doing my part. Actually, I like paying the bills too. Mon Jul 27 08:43:18 +0000 2009
• It's a nice feeling not to be in debt. Culturally even more than monetarily. Mon Jul 27 08:43:48 +0000 2009
• If you give a bureaucrat the opportunity to practice their craft, they will. Tue Jul 28 21:50:48 +0000 2009
• .@whatsnext You've just given me a great idea! A computer virus that disables only the exclamation point key and the caps lock key. Tue Aug 04 22:15:24 +0000 2009
• Acceleration accelerates. Accretion accretes. Wed Aug 05 04:54:23 +0000 2009
• .@WoodworthArt One of my core business philosophies is that the only things worth pursuing are the ones that benefit everyone in some way. Thu Aug 06 20:02:42 +0000 2009
• Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder. Sat Aug 08 06:16:46 +0000 2009
• Just because it kinda makes sense doesn't mean it means anything. Tue Aug 11 03:52:27 +0000 2009
• Note to self: You could TOTALLY encode messages into most techno music using Morse Code. Fri Aug 14 21:59:01 +0000 2009
• Adversity was long my metier, and my method was victory. Fri Aug 21 00:41:45 +0000 2009
• When people tell you that you should be afraid of something, tell them to fuck off. They're almost certainly lying or about to lie. Fri Sep 04 21:58:22 +0000 2009
• A disaster avoided is good. A disaster surpassed is greater. To turn a disaster to serve one's own goals and will is best. Sat Sep 12 21:54:02 +0000 2009
• Will is more important than nature or nurture. Having tried all three. Mon Sep 14 04:15:44 +0000 2009
• I'm a force of nature myself, so me against the weather would be a fair fight. Except that I plan to cheat. Tue Sep 22 03:14:20 +0000 2009
• When your enemies inspire you to greatness, all have done their job. Tue Sep 22 03:46:10 +0000 2009
• The problem with Trickster gods and spirits? They show up. They are a VERY hands-on bunch. Tue Sep 22 04:07:06 +0000 2009
• Reason can never truly subvert desire, because we do not "have desire," desire has us. Usually by the balls. Sun Sep 27 15:42:55 +0000 2009
• The fact of the matter is that we are living in a furiously somnolent world. Sun Sep 27 16:02:35 +0000 2009
• Making myths is not much different from starting rumors. Sun Sep 27 16:16:23 +0000 2009
• Often, a thing becomes true regardless of veracity, just because it makes so much sense or successfully stirs the social libido. Sun Sep 27 16:16:28 +0000 2009
• Headlines that inspire fear get attention, but do no one any real good. Tue Sep 29 03:42:05 +0000 2009
• People who seek to inspire panic really need a strong punch in the mouth. It's a low art, and deserves hefty criticism. Tue Sep 29 03:47:00 +0000 2009
• The other day I described an actress as a "commodity blonde." I'm surprised that isn't a term of art in casting. Wed Sep 30 04:02:35 +0000 2009
• I could make really cool TV dinner trays from the face of old cathode ray tubes. Except for the bit where they tend to explode… Wed Sep 30 04:07:42 +0000 2009
• Money is a blunt instrument. So is a hammer. You can build a LOT of shit with a hammer. Wed Sep 30 04:15:03 +0000 2009
• The best form of capital is respect from your peers. And there ain't no shortcut to earn it. Sat Oct 03 07:10:32 +0000 2009
• .@Buffalokid I think of creating art much more as rock n' roll than meditation. The physical part is dance, the mental part is poetry. Mon Oct 05 04:33:41 +0000 2009
• Good design takes so frickin' long. I wish I could design as fast as I can build. Building shit is the EASY part. Mon Oct 05 06:40:02 +0000 2009
• OH "Saint Hyperbole— Yeah, he's the saint of Evvvverything." Tue Oct 06 01:14:12 +0000 2009
• PSA: martinis made with everclear should be savored not slammed. (from here on in, I'm not correcting my typos). Tue Oct 06 05:22:27 +0000 2009
• Sometimes i feel weird tweeting aphorisms. Then I remember I set out to be a holy fool and it's just part of the gig. Tue Oct 06 05:34:00 +0000 2009
• If burning coal wipes out the planet, then the dinosaurs win. Well, kind of. Sat Oct 10 05:19:45 +0000 2009
• I made a pact with mythic narrative early on: I'd live large, live reasonably long and in turn I would never be bored. Tue Oct 13 15:41:26 +0000 2009
• .@corewarrior The fearful inner artist who would succeed adopts the mantra "fuck you" and carries it into battle with a smile. Mon Oct 19 22:51:25 +0000 2009
• I didn't get much encouragement, until I didn't need it so much anymore. Back then I had to make it myself. I appreciate it now though. Mon Oct 19 22:53:08 +0000 2009
• Remember: Fear will fuck you every time. But it's better to beat it than avoid it, because avoidance is a form of fear. Tue Oct 20 04:04:00 +0000 2009
• There are three things required to make art: time, space and materials. You need all three. No two of them will work on their own. Sat Oct 24 05:36:56 +0000 2009
• I grew up reading heroic literature. That was my aspiration, to live as my heroes had lived. Many people counseled against this idea. Wed Nov 11 05:19:03 +0000 2009
• I was always like "what? Bruce Wayne has no powers, just money and determination + he could do it without the money. Look at Woody Guthry." Wed Nov 11 05:21:56 +0000 2009
• What makes a hero, or a folk hero, is that they are always about something bigger than themselves. I believe in that. You act for others. Wed Nov 11 05:24:08 +0000 2009
• A hero, no matter how much they appreciate attention, always works for the public good and for others. Bottom line. Wed Nov 11 05:31:46 +0000 2009
• The world is my laboratory. Experimentation is my life. Tue Nov 17 18:23:33 +0000 2009
• Cats are made of irony. Sun Nov 29 16:14:45 +0000 2009
• We have pills for people who suffer iron deficiency. Why aren't there pills for irony deficiency? Sun Nov 29 16:16:52 +0000 2009
• @mrjackolson it makes a distinctive staticky noise when it dies. We should all do that, now that I think of it. Sat Dec 12 09:05:25 +0000 2009
• "There's a time for reciting poems and a time for fists" Marcie quoted. "Who tweeted that, @RobertBruce?" I ask. It's from a book, she says. Wed Dec 23 21:17:01 +0000 2009
• Which is when I realized that I assume all sentences under 140 characters must come from Twitter. Damn. Wed Dec 23 21:17:31 +0000 2009
• It's been so long since anyone quoted something short from a book that I almost forgot you could do that. Wed Dec 23 21:19:15 +0000 2009
• I wish DVDs were like cereal boxes… when it says "security device enclosed" I always hope for a free taser or can of mace. Fri Jan 01 02:08:47 +0000 2010
• OH: I suppose that would be fair, but how does that make it relevant? Fri Jan 01 04:05:26 +0000 2010

Interviews with Lissa Boles of truecallings.net

The following interviews were recorded with Lissa Boles, who with her husband Randy, provides coaching and workshops on actually living your dream. Lissa was impressed with my interview with Chris Guillebeau at The Art of Non-Conformity blog and the post It's only life or death. It's always only life or death. She emailed to ask if I'd be interested in doing an interview for her podcast about turning disaster into opportunity.

We were both so happy with the way the call went that we've agreed to do a series of talks based on related ideas that came up in the first call. Lissa asks really great questions, which makes it easy to share some of the ideas and lessons I've come up with over the years.

The fun thing about the calls is that there are a lot of stories that come up by way of example that I would probably never blog about… I'm hoping to use the transcripts from the talks as the rough draft of a book in the future.

Interview No. 1: Turning disasters into opportunities

Interview1-JohnUnger11-24-09

Interview No. 2: How to train for disaster, Heroes and how to be one

Interview2JohnUnger12-18-09

Fire Imps Recycled Steel Sculpture

Fire Imps: Playful, Colorful Sculpture for Your Home

I love the way that the shapes and colors of the Fire Imps interact in a group— like a coral reef, a modern dance troupe, a forest of fall leaves, a party or festival. Scroll down or click here to purchase available Fire Imp Sculptures

I'm in love. I've been working a new series of sculptures that are the most playful, energetic and touchable work I've done in years. I'm so into the Fire Imps that I've decided to do 600 of them, divided into six series of 100 each in different colors.

Part of what makes the Fire Imps fun is the freeze frame of pattern, rhythm, lyricality and syncopation that gives them a musical feel… combined in groups, they resemble a musical score as much as a group of dancers. The shadows they cast are also a part of the piece, doubling or distorting the form, mirroring the sculpture on the wall.

 

Fire Imp Sculptures are Playful and Dynamic in Groups
View Gallery of group Fire Imp arrangements on Flickr

Each Fire Imp is a one of a kind sculpture that will never be repeated. Although their bright colors and cheerful look could fool you, they are made from 100% recycled steel. The bases come from a local factory that cuts LOTS of holes into thick steel and scraps the circles left over. The body of the sculptures are scraps left over from cutting my Great Bowl O' Fire firebowls. They're the spaces between the flames.

 

Born of Sparks + Steel: See how I make the Fire Imps

 

Simplicity is tricky— it can take years to refine a pleasing form

For a long time, I've been trying to figure out the best way to work with the cool scraps left over from cutting the Great Bowl O Fire… I've tried a few different approaches: layered panels, small sculptures, steel trees. I was happy with those, but they weren't quite it. There were two characteristics that made the scraps difficult to work with: first, they're cut from a bowl, so there's a compound curve that often posed a problem in joining them. Second, each has a long flat section where the lip of the bowl was that didn't match the organic curves on the rest of the piece. Finally I realized that if I removed the flat edge, and re-cut the scraps, I could attach the pieces to small bases and create some very fun and interesting table top sculptures. And it's become an addiction.

I plan to do six limited edition series of the Fire Imps: 100 in natural steel, and 100 each in Red, Yellow, Orange, White and Black. All are signed and numbered on the base and once I've completed the edition of 100, no more will be made in that color. I will be completing the series in small batches and adding them here as they become available.

 

Choose your exclusive Fire Imp. Each is a signed and numbered original.
Red No. 18 of 100 125.00	Red No. 13 of 100 125.00	Red No. 06 of 100 125.00	Red No. 05 of 100 125.00
Yellow No. 02 of 100 125.00	Yellow No. 03 of 100 125.00	Yellow No. 09 of 100 125.00	Yellow No. 11 of 100 125.00
Yellow No. 12 of 100 125.00	Yellow No. 16 of 100 125.00	Yellow No. 20 of 100 125.00	Orange No. 04 of 100 125.00
Orange No. 05 of 100 125.00	Orange No. 06 of 100 125.00	Orange No. 09 of 100 125.00	Orange No. 16 of 100 125.00
Black No. 02 of 100 125.00	Black No. 04 of 100 125.00	Black No. 08 of 100 125.00	Black No. 09 of 100 125.00
Black No. 10 of 100 125.00	Black No. 13 of 100 125.00	White No. 01 of 100 125.00	White No. 02 of 100 125.00
White No. 03 of 100 125.00	White No. 05 of 100 125.00	White No. 07 of 100 125.00	White No. 08 of 100 125.00
White No. 09 of 100 125.00	White No. 10 of 100 125.00	Fire Imp No. 2 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 6 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 7 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 09 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 10 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 26 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 32 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 47 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 57 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 58 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp 59 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 60 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 61 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 62 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 63 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 64 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 65 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 66 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 67 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 68 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 69 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 70 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 71 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 72 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 73 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 74 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 75 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 76 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 77 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 78 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 79 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 80 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 81 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 82 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 83 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 84 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 85 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 86 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 87 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 88 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 89 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 90 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 91 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 92 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 93 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 94 of 100 75.00
Fire Imp No. 95 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 96 of 100 75.00	Fire Imp No. 97 of 100 75.00

 

People Love Their Fire Imps!

The Fire Imp Sculptures were launched as a project on Kickstarter.com and pre-sold 94 of the 600 sculptures.

Here are some of the responses (via email, twitter and blogs) to the first wave of Fire Imps that were purchased through Kickstarter:

• "Hey buddy! The imp is fantastic! The lil fella is now sitting in the middle of my dining room table." — Graeme Cameron
• :) I love my little guy! (and @sarahdopp for linking me to you)" — Anthony Severo
• "So far I gave $5 bucks to a struggling community garden in Philadelphia in exchange for some herbs, and totally snagged a killer piece of art by John T Unger, an artist who's work very much appeals to me… I was lucky enough to feel like I got in on the ground floor and am really happy to help, make the connection, and have a fire imp displayed in my room." — Anthony Severo
  
• "My angry chicken arrived today! Love it!" —Thomas George
• "Hey, just wanted to let you know the family really enjoys our sculpture. We came home a couple days after getting it and the electricity was out in our building, so we put a candle behind it and were amazed at how great the projection of it looked on the ceiling and walls." — Tracy Robinson
• "I got my Imp last week. Thanks ever so much- We love it!" — Kim Dancy
• "Hey there. I got the Imp! Sweet! I blogged about it here. It really does look like a little fire imp." — Radical Vixen
• "Received my "Fire Imp". Love it, very fun and free flowing. Sits on the bar/counter in front of my sink, so I can 'talk' to it while I cook, eat, do dishes etc. ;-) " — Lynda Leonard
• "Just received my Fire Imp today. It's Beautiful!!!! It packs quit a wallop right to the heart!!! I have put it on the dresser for now, (it will have a new home when we move) so I can see it everyday and be inspired by it. I admire what you are doing and I equally admire HOW you are doing it.
  Thank You for the beautiful Fire Imp! Thank You for inspiring and showing me how to stand up for what is right and how to do it with such integrity. I hope I have the courage to do it in my own life." — Cheryl Wolfe
• "Just set up my 5 Fire Imp sculptures in our home office courtesy of @johntunger -- thanks! They look great!" — Erica Douglass
• "I got my Fire Imp by @johntunger! Yay! It's pretty! And...cold from traveling so far." — Sarah Dopp
• "My Fire Imp arrived today. It's beautiful. I'm in heaven over it. Thank you!" — Carolyn Jewel
• "Yay! My Fire Imp Sculpture from @johntunger arrived today!" — Jennifer Mathis
• "The piece (pictured below) is created from the negative space used in producing the firebowls (you can see the shape of the flames at the top of the piece).
  It's a great, abstract and colorful piece. And I'm thrilled to add it to my collection. — Ryan Barton

I love the emotional response to the sculptures and the fact that so many people shared photos of their new art on twitter.

1000 Markets: Great Online Sales Platform for Artists

When I first discovered 1000markets.com I was totally blown away by their design and implementation of an online arts marketplace… 1KM is beautiful, functional and focused. Of all the sites I've tried for selling my work online, 1000 Markets has the simplest, fastest and most powerful user interface. I love it.

I also love the fact that as good as it is, when I made a few suggestions to CEO Matt Trifiro, he saw the value of the ideas and was able to implement them nearly instantly on the system. This led to a great friendship and also to a consulting gig on a secret project which I am very excited about. I honestly believe that the project we're working on has the potential to be world-changing. It's kind of what I've considered my personal holy grail in web development and I'm confident that this is the crew best suited to finally make it happen.

If you're looking for a place to sell art (or other goods, in some cases) online I totally recommend checking 1000 Markets out. I had planned to write a really detailed review and overview, but since Asley Pahl has beaten me to it, I'll refer you to her post: Thinking about selling on 1000 Markets?. Ashley did a great job of providing a detailed description of what you need to know and how to set up your store, including screenshots.

If you want to check out what I've listed on 1000 Markets, you can view my store here.

Bottle Cap Art Tutorial: How I Craft my Bottle Cap Mosaics

Every few weeks I get an email asking me about how my Bottle Cap Mosaics are created… people want to know what they're made of, how the caps are attached, where I get the caps for the mosaics and so on. I've created the video below to answer most of those questions.

Probably the most frequent question is "do you drink all that beer yourself?" Well, no. If I did, I'd never get anything done so I hire professionals (ie: I get most of them from bars and quite a few from friends who save them for me).

How to install a gas burner in my firebowls

One of the phone calls I get a lot is from people who want to know how the gas burners are installed in my firebowls. I've finally taken the time to sit down and draw a diagram that shows how the stainless steel burners connect to the firebowl.

It's really quite simple, as you can see in the drawing. The burner just threads down onto 1/2" gas pipe and you're done. Use some pipe dope (and make sure that it's rated for gas) to make sure you get a good tight fit with no leaks.

Can you tell by the drawing that I learned how to use Adobe Illustrator by drawing owner guide artwork for Ford? If you would like to print the instructions, you can download a PDF file by clicking this link: Download firepit-gas-burner-installation-instructions.pdf