We were lucky to catch up with Marion Mason recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Marion thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Producing “wearable sculptures”, my pendants and earrings, was a natural, logical outgrowth of my life as a sculptor. I had the idea to produce very small sculptures so that people could actually wear a unique work of art. Each piece has a story pertaining to the particular material used. Many pendants and earrings are made from upcycled wood (wood from discarded furniture, from branches pruned, from waste wood along the roadside, and from construction woods).

I started my business, Sculptguy, while I was still working full time as a high school Art teacher. I offered my wares at some local markets. After retiring (having taught for forty two years) I ramped up my business significantly. I became a full-time maker and marketer of “wearable sculptures”, in addition to continuing to produce, exhibit and sell sculptures.

Although I’m an artist who’s competent in all artforms, my forte is three-dimensional design. Form. It’s all about form.
My sculpture and “wearable sculptures” are produced in the non-objective art style, pure design. I want the viewer/wearer to appreciate, interpret, “read” my work in any way they desire. I want them to see the beauty and aesthetics of the forms I sculpt.

I get my inspiration from the shapes and forms that I see in both nature and the built environment. But I do not directly use those shapes and forms in my designs. They are simply a starting point for my sculpting. My primary focus in my 3-D work is dynamic movement and contrast. I sculpt my forms in a manner that leads the viewer’s/wearer’s eyes all around the piece. I create contrast by using different colored woods, different sizes and shapes, organic and geometric shapes, and different materials like wood and soapstone.

With enthusiasm and drive, I continue to produce and sell my three-dimensional works of art through word-of-mouth, markets and festivals, galleries, and online. My art business future is bright.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a retired public HS Art teacher of 42 years. Before that I was an officer in the U.S. Navy for 5 years, and am a Vietnam vet. Since I retired in early ’19 I have become what I was always meant to be: a professional artist.

> Education:
BA in Studio Art (sculpture concentration)- Univ. of South Carolina
MFA degree, in Sculpture- Univ. of Georgia.
MEd degree, in Adult and Community Education- Univ. of South Carolina
> Birthplace: Savannah, GA
> Current location: Lexington, SC (since 1977)
> Teaching career: 42 consecutive years teaching Art (all visual artforms and Art history) in public high schools, in the Midlands of SC. I served as Fine Arts Department Chair for 23 years, at two different high schools.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I pursued a post high school education in visual art because art was something I’ve always been very interested in, and naturally talented in. I concentrated on sculpture/3-D design when earning my BA in studio art. After a five year stint in the Navy, my first meaningful life pivot was from the military to art. I went to grad school and earned a master of fine arts degree in sculpture. all of this art education helped me develop my knowledge, skills and deep appreciation for art in general and in sculpture specifically.

After grad school I undertook my next major pivot in my life: from grad school to being a producing professional artist. For various reasons it didn’t work out. I could not make a living income off of my artwork alone. So I worked a couple of different jobs, as many beginning artists do, in addition to continuing to produce sculpture and other artwork.
This difficult financial period necessitated another pivot in my life, one which would last a long time. I got involved in teaching. At first I was fortunate to be hired as the artist in residence at a fine arts high school gifted and talented program. It was great… but. It was cancelled after only one year. Time to pivot again.

Someone said that I should get certified to teach Art. I never had any desire to be a teacher, but being unemployed made me take the plunge. After a brief certification program I landed my first Art teaching job at an inner city high school. it was a difficult time in my life, for several reasons, Eventually I found employment at other high schools, and my career flourished. So, after never wanting to be a teacher, I retired with a forty two consecutive year Art teaching career.
Time to pivot again.

After retirement I became what I always wanted to be: a producing professional artist. I became passionate about being in my studio almost daily, producing sculpture, “wearable sculptures,” and other artwork. I founded my business, Sculptguy, and began to actively market my pendants and earrings. Perhaps this will be my last real pivot in life.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I do make my own product. I’m both the sole proprietor and producing artist of my Sculptguy business. My wife is my administrative assistant who keeps track of profits and dispersements, taxes, and most of the market scheduling. She is invaluable.

As stated above, both my free standing sculpture and “wearable sculptures” are made primarily of wood, or combinations of different woods, or wood and soapstone. I do, however, have a group of pendants and earrings I call my “Edisto Collection”. These items are made from oyster and pen shells that I source on Edisto Beach, SC. The “Edisto Collection” pen shell earrings and pendants are some of my best selling pieces, for three reasons. First, they are iridescent and flash brilliant colors. Second, they are very unique and rare (who knows of anyone other than me making and selling pen shell jewelry?). Lastly, they have that connection to the beach, to the ocean. Lots of people savor that.

I hand carve every pendant and earring.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sculptguy.com
• Instagram: marion-mason-7715
• Facebook: Sculptguy’s “Wearable Sculptures” -My pendants & Earrings
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/marionmason

Image Credits

All images were photographed by me.