Artist Statement
My favorite tool would have to be my imagination. I grab a rock out of the pile turn it, look at it, then with some time and work I turn it into a knife blade, arrowhead, or even a cabochon for a ring or necklace. I enjoy what I do because I love to see how a rock covered in dirt, can go from a clump of stone to something beautiful. My favorite material would have to be obsidian or opal. I also enjoy working with wood and antler. A piece has turned out well when the blade fits with the handle to complement the flow and pattern in both.

The patterns that just seem to jump out would have to be the wood grain look of the mahogany obsidian and the trails of lace in the midnight lace obsidian. In the opal it would have to be the fire that jumps right out of the piece.

What I do differently now as to what I learned in the beginning, is vast as I have developed my technique over many years. I am self taught, I have made my own style of tools and techniques it cuts down on time but not quality.

As far as a favorite color, I would have to say I don’t really have one. Nature provides such a wide array of colors. Like the rainbow obsidian and tiger eye I have been cutting lately. Reds, blues, purples, even gold.

When I am out in my shop working I turn up the music and get lost in the thoughts of how it must have been hundreds of years ago. How Native Americans could have benefited from my techniques.  I have worked very hard to find a comfortable and efficient way to create my art. I am filled with a sense of accomplishment when things come together the way I plan and sometime they come together with out much of a plan at all. Like pieces are just meant to be together.

I have been a rock hound for most of my life, starting as a child picking up stones that my mom would then find in the wash. I saw art in them even then. It took me till adulthood to hone my craft.  Now as an adult I find new uses for my arrowheads and spear points, I have gone on from simple points to making necklaces and earrings as well as arrows and knives. I will continue to do this as long as my imagination allows me to. With good luck, and good health, I will keep on creating for a very long time.

About Bill Irvin
Bill Irvin has collected rocks since childhood. As he grew up, he developed his talent to turn rock into art. He is self taught and loves to create knifes and arrowheads with stone and other glass type materials. He is also expanding his talent to jewelry making.

Bill works a full and a part time job along side of his art. His goal is to open a rock and jewelry store and to turn his hobby into a full time job.

Artist Code: BI