Bobby Teller first discovered his creative side around age 7, when browsing the comics section of the newspaper.
Using colored pencils, his natural talent revealed itself as he recreated the characters in front of him. He experimented with other art forms, like acrylic paint, but eventually decided his favorite way to create involved making and assembling things.
“What I discovered is that I enjoyed working in three dimensions,” Teller said. “Putting things together, fabricating things rather than depicting three dimensions.”
Teller, who lives in Crawford, creates three-dimensional work of all kinds, including jewelry, silverware, hollowware and more. His appreciation for working with metals comes from the feelings of pride knowing his creation is uniquely his.
“I find it fascinating that you can take something that’s so hard and potentially cold and rigid, whether it be copper, silver, iron, whatever, and make it into something that’s the last thing you think of,” Teller said. “Whether you’re making a supply chain or some dangly earrings.”
While Teller has extensive experience selling his work at craft shows, galleries and on Etsy, creating art has never been about the money for him.
“I never subscribed to the Bohemian artist lifestyle, like a lot of people did,” Teller said. “It was important that I had medical insurance and life insurance and a roof over my head, and I never wanted to be the starving artist.”
Teller has worked in construction most of his life, where he was “able to get (his) creative urge out that way.” Although remodeling homes satisfies some of his artistic desires, Teller’s biggest challenge in the art world is “not doing it 24/7.”
His love for creating comes from a combination of factors, including the state of relaxation while at work and the feelings of accomplishment after his project is completed. When he feels he can’t articulate his passion for creating, he quotes Pearl S. Buck to describe the feeling for him.
“He must create, must pour out creation by some strange, unknown inward urgency. He is not really alive, unless he is creating,” is his go-to quote.
“Bobby has a burning need to create,” Bobby’s wife Donna Teller said. “He always has as long as I’ve known him. Sometimes it’s something in his studio working with copper or silver, or it can be creating or designing something in our yard, or creating a piece of yard art. Whatever it is, I am the benefactor.”
In addition to creating his own work, Teller finds inspiration from those around him who are also metalsmiths.
“I mean, I’m constantly looking on Pinterest or going down a rabbit hole online to find others that do this work, and that are really good craftspeople,” Teller said.
Donna said: “We met a lot of really interesting people. We got to see a lot of other people's artwork, and we developed appreciation for other people's work, too.”
Teller remains passionate about his artwork and plans to continue creating in his free time.
“That’s me in a nutshell,” Teller said. “I make things. I always make things. I love making things.”