Still Building America—Backup plans matter

Photo courtesy of Pacific Metal Arts.

Early American social reformer Henry Ward Beecher once said: “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” This seems chiefly true for Jesse Purdom, a Montana transplant and passionate outdoorsman now residing and working in Washington.

It might seem like fate, but typically good things don’t happen without a backup plan. Jesse always had an interest in art and “building things,” and he was a commercial electrician for seven years. But when the recession hit, he had a choice to make: Go on unemployment, or push another idea he’d been sitting on. He went with the latter, and Pacific Metal Arts, Snohomish, Wash., was born.

“Years later I still feel everything happens for a reason, and I'm glad I went with my gut,” Purdom said.

From architectural and landscape pieces to wildlife sculptures, both life-sized and small enough to fit on a desk, Jesse lives Beecher’s words. And in his own words, “having the freedom to express my creativity and passion of the great outdoors through my art” is what keeps him going.

Jesse is principally a self-taught artist. While no one learns in a vacuum, he learned mostly by time and trial and error. For anyone wanting to get into the trades he says, “Don't give up, and work hard. Nothing should be taken for granted, and don't expect things to be handed to you. Hard work and determination are the only ways to success.”

As for Jesse’s future? “To keep growing. This is my life and there is no looking back now.”

You can check out more of Jesse’s work at www.pacificmetalarts.com.

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