Shelly Metzger is the owner of The Artisan Acorn, and primarily works with paint to create one of a kind hand-made artworks.
✦ Murals ✦ Lettering ✦ Reverse Glass & More ✦
Serving Thurston County, WA, surrounding areas, and beyond.
✦ Have paint brushes, will travel! ✦
✦ Murals ✦ Lettering ✦ Reverse Glass & More ✦
Serving Thurston County, WA, surrounding areas, and beyond.
✦ Have paint brushes, will travel! ✦
About Me & How
I Got Started
I wanted to be an artist since before I can remember. Many childhood mornings involved watching Bob Ross while attempting to recreate happy little trees. During college I was torn between painting and photography. I loved painting, and would spend as much time in the studio as possible. Leaving around 4 am to squeeze in a few hours of painting before class, and then going back to paint until 2 am. Pretend to sleep. Repeat. I also enjoyed documentary - lifestyle portraiture. I spent several years behind a camera. Married a military man, and bounced around the country taking photos.
Being a self-employed mil-spouse meant I had to start over with a new client base every time we moved. When we relocated to Washington State, I wanted to earn income right away, and therefore looked for additional forms of employment. Thankfully, I landed a job with a paint studio almost immediately. I loved it so much I stayed on and taught there for a few years. Later, Mr. Husband (who was a civilian by that time) unexpectedly lost his job, which rocked our world. Suddenly, it was go time, and I needed more work.
I started working for Bark and Garden. They would periodically need simple signs written. I let them know I was artistic. Little by little, between my other duties, they had me make more and more signs. Nothing too fancy, but enough to help draw extra attention to whatever they wanted to highlight. At first it was with chalk, then pen or sharpie, and eventually paint.
One day Boss Man asked if I had any interest in painting vehicles. I had always loved old rusty things and working on alternative surfaces, but this opened a new world to me. I was working full time for the garden center, and working part time painting for him. I loved every minute of it. Eventually, I realized painting was what I wanted to do all day, every day.
Whether it's vehicles, walls, windows, or whatever, I think it'll look better with paint, and I want to be the one to paint it.
For the glory of God, whether what I paint is secular or holy, know that Jesus is king, and he loves you.
For the glory of God, whether what I paint is secular or holy, know that Jesus is king, and he loves you.