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.
