Today we’d like to introduce you to Mason Hurlbut.
Hi Mason, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started working with metal in high school when I took an Agriculture Mechanics class. I found welding extremely satisfying and interesting. While in that class, I was given a flyer for a local apprenticeship program called NCTAP. After applying and eventually being selected for their first class of students, I started working in manufacturing full time while going to school for Mechanical Engineering.
Once I graduated from the program, I knew I wanted to continue welding outside of the normal day-job setting, which is when I really started to find a creative footing that I hadn’t really explored before. After a few months of experimentation with small sculptures and household items like lamps and side-tables, I realized that I just didn’t have enough time or equipment to fully develop it the way I originally envisioned. This is where things got interesting. Around two years ago, I was in this weird space where I wanted to make something creative but couldn’t figure out what it was. I took a trip to Las Vegas and found an art gallery that was owned by an artist making works that inspired what I make now. When I saw his art, I had an epiphany and spent the rest of that trip thinking about how I would go about creating a similar style of art. It took me a few weeks to even make a design that I was “ok” with but knew I needed a push to keep going. I applied to a craft show in Raleigh, four months out, with no finished work. I ended up finishing 31 pieces for the show and was able to sell quite a few. I even pick up some commissions. I’ve now started to branch out to different styles of painting and really exploring and embracing this creative side of myself. Which is helping me grow as an artist in ways I never thought possible.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Besides the “learning as I go” aspect, I’ve really struggled with finding my voice, time management, and embracing the creative side of myself that I have never really developed before. My work is not the traditional form of painting, which makes it hard to show online through social media channels. It has a completely different look in person, and each piece really comes to life when you view it. The COVID-19 pandemic postponed my ability to show my pieces live, which led to a lot of self-doubt. Knowing I have shows later this year has helped me stay focused and just continue to fall in love with painting and the making of art. I am not a full-time artist and have two other jobs. Between my full-time job, other hobbies, commission work, and trying to create a body of work that I am proud of, I’ve really found it difficult to keep track of different projects and stay dedicated to one particular subject. Keeping a calendar, sketchbook, to-do lists, and a series development book have really helped focus my efforts to move my art in the direction I want it to. Spending more time on my art has really helped me better understand myself and the kind of artist I want to be. Growing up without a drive or passion for creative expression makes this side of myself very new. I now see myself as a creative individual, as well as an artist. It’s very exciting to see this change, knowing how much I enjoy the act of painting and creating. I feel like this is something I will want to do for years to come.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is always changing and growing, but my main medium is aluminum. I use various angle grinders, sanding discs, and etching tools to create an abstract design in the metal that I cut out of large sheets. From there I paint over the design, using various types of paint, which include (but aren’t limited too) alcohol inks, acrylic, acryl gouache, spray, and automotive paints. When the “topcoat” is applied, it acts as a prism for light to pass through, also passing through each layer of paint, to the metal, and bouncing back to the eye of the viewer. This makes the painting “dance” with you as you move around it. Most of my paintings have very holographic and 3-dimensional looks to them. The more layers of grinding and paint, the deeper the piece looks. I use the power of music to influence each painting, as it helps me get into a zone that blocks out everything around me, creating a “flow” that I channel into every part of the process. It’s not uncommon to find myself dancing, singing, and painting to the music for hours while I’m working, without even realizing it. This makes for a very meditative process that sucks me in and allows me to focus solely on creating. I usually will put on one song that matches the energy I’m trying to create and will only listen to that song for hours, until I’m finished working.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think the characteristic that has had the most impact on where I am today is my deep desire to be more. More than what others say I should be and more than how others see me now or in the past. That desire, I think fuels my creativity and forces me out of my “box”, whether it’s a box I’ve made for myself or one that others put me in.
Contact Info:
- Email: groundedartbymason@gmail.com
- Website: www.groundedartbymason.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grounded_art_by_mason/
Image Credits
Nicholas Hurlbut
