Patchwork

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 114   Location:  Creighton Block Gallery 

This was created for a local fund raiser but did not sell at the event.  I had the idea six months prior to the event.  It is a patchwork of several belly pieces woven together.  I stained each piece individually then wove them back together and tied them with leather pieces.  

This was one of those ideas that sounded good at the time but turned out to be more challenging than I ever imagined.   It is pretty spectacular.

Free Form Magic

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 101   Location:  Creighton Block Gallery

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 104   Location:  Creighton Block Gallery

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 105   Location:  Creighton Block Gallery

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 109   Location:  Creighton Block Gallery

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 113  Location:  Creighton Block Gallery

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 117  Location:  

I must admit one of my favorite things is molding and sculpting the leather.  It is such fun to see what it will do.  Then I spend lots of time layering the stains until they look old and antiqued.

Antlers and Leather

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  116   Location:  Creightonblock Gallery

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 115   Location:  Creighton Block Gallery

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 112   Location:  Creighton Block Gallery

I finally found some whole antlers and began to incorporate them with the sculpted leather.  I must admit they do go well together.  It will be fun to see what I can do this winter.

Layers

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 106   Location:  Sold to Collector

This piece I experimented in layers of leather with the antler accent.

Woven Leather

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 87   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 90   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 91   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 92  Location:  BearFeather Studio 

I love the shapes of the natural edges of the hides, the belly pieces that stretch and the imperfections.  One day I took several interesting pieces and wove them together using two different colors of stain.  

Wall Hanging

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 71   Location:  Portiera Designs

This is a very large piece that hangs on the wall.  I wanted to add some hair on hide to see what it would look like.  The triangle piece under the antler button is elk.

Driftwood, Willows and Bones

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 84   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 81   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 93  Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 82  Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 83   Location:  BearFeather Studio

Perhaps it is my Native American heritage that draws me to natural elements.  I am not sure, but these are the result of me experimenting with bones, willows and driftwood.

More Large Designs

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 52   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 56   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 62   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 70   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 73   Location:   Portiera Designs

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 74   Location:  Portiera Designs

I began to experiment with adding lacing and antlers.  I always keep the natural edges, brands and unique characteristics of the leather.

To me they make the pieces more interesting. 

My First Gallery Collection

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 45   Location:  Sold to Collector

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 48   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 51   Location:  Sold to Collector

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 57   Location:  Sold to Collector

 

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 55   Location:  Sold to Collector

Here are a few of the pieces in my first gallery collection.  These sold quickly at a local fund raiser and two new galleries.

 

 

My First Large Gallery Piece Sells

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 49   Location:  Sold to Collector

I began to create larger one of a kind pieces to sell in galleries.  This is one of the pieces in that first group.

A close friend of mine fell in love with the piece and purchased it.  That gave me the confidence to allow myself  to enjoy creating more of the free form style I enjoyed in the beginning.

The Swan

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  Gallery 50, The Swan   Location:  My Private Collection

One day after cutting out a large number of pieces I was left with a strangely odd shape.  Bored with the same old shapes it seemed to call to me to mold it and see what would happen.  This was the result.

A friend of mine called it a swan and the name stuck.  The story of the ugly duckling that turns into the swan seemed to fit nicely.

A couple of years ago a gentleman offered me a handsome sum for this piece.  Without thinking I blurted out that it was not for sale.

Later I realized why.  The workmanship reflects the challenges I experienced with my sight.  It remains in my private collection as a reminder of how blessed I am to have restored my vision.

Antler Gift Line Is Born

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  My Antler Gift Line   Location:  BearFeather Studio and numerous outlets

We live in a small rural town in Montana with a population of about eight hundred people.  Summer tourists provide most of our income.  Since my retail outlets were local I found it necessary to expand my business to other markets.

Unable to drive to show my art I turned to the internet to find new retail outlets.  I found eighteen that first winter.  Several of those continue to represent me to this day.

I continue to search for new outlets and welcome all wholesale inquiries.

My First Collection

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  My First Collection    Location:  Sold

It was a year and a half before my driving privileges were restored.  Constantly changing sight forced me to learn to do many things differently.

My entire focus in life shifted.  I learned to ask for and receive help since I could not drive or see well enough to read a menu.  I found new ways to do the things I wanted to accomplish.

I focused more on giving thanks for the blessings I already had and the bowls grew along with my new consciousness.

I created an artist statement to accompany each piece along with a tag stating it was handmade in Montana by Penny Hall.

A couple of local outlets represented me and my pieces sold very well. 

My Second Leather Bowl

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  My Second Bowl    Location:  Sold at Auction

I donated the second bowl I created to a local fund raiser where it brought $450.00 toward the cause.  I was shocked.

I decided to make several pieces and try selling them at our local arts festival.  It seemed like a good way to make some extra money to help with medical costs.

A few days before the show my retina detached.  I was in bed recovering from yet another eye surgery unable to attend the show.

I was also unemployed due to the eye problems and needed a way to create income.  So, I began to search for outlets for the pieces I had already created.

With the help of Blind and Low Vision Services I learned to use magnifying tools and lights to assist me as I began to build my new art business.

How It All Began

Artist: Penny Hall     Item:  My First Bowl    Location:  My Private Collection

I saw a photograph of a leather bowl when searching for something to do in between eye surgeries.  I was fascinated by the fact that the leather would hold its shape.

When the doctor told me I was legally blind I did not want my mind to accept it.  I wanted to do something to prove to myself I was NOT blind.  So, this seemed like a really good project.

It turned out to be better than I ever imagined.  I had no idea at the time what a journey lay ahead of me.

This is the first bowl I created.