Daily Inspiration: Meet Alice Shepherd

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alice Shepherd.

Hi Alice, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My story is about soul searching, being honest with myself and others about the kind of life I wanted, and, shaking in my boots, scared, going for it anyway! The short of it is I got started the long way! I got to where I am now with a LOT of help.

I formally started creating art under “Artwork Cubed” in 2011 after an excruciating decision to leave a lifelong career in accounting. I’ve made things with my own hands since childhood with whatever materials happened to be available. I’m a “bred and buttered” Nashvillian and an only child with a big imagination, raised by mechanics and machinists living in a working-class, make-do environment. I’m third generation Alice and my grandmother’s namesake, which inspired the business name and logo. As a young adult, I fell madly in love with a man who works in industrial sales, and we have been married for many years.

Having also earned a BA from MTSU in Sociology and Philosophy, I aspired to do installation and social practice art, so I started by reaching out to a thriving local artist. She provided me with an invaluable internship culminating in an art crawl opportunity where (with help) I created and performed an interactive installation and a related gallery exhibit.

Through those experiences, I met a local business owner/Metro Arts Commissioner who began representing my work and invited me to participate in a community art project and demonstration opportunities with sales potential. I joined Tennessee Craft, which helped promote my work, and provided exhibit opportunities, scholarships, and networking.

I also completed the “Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training” program by competing in the final pitch competition. Talk about terrifying! But all these experiences were substantial CV builders toward my first juried solo show in the “Flying Solo Series” at the Nashville Airport. I have artwork in two retail galleries: Picture This Creative in Hermitage, TN, and Harpeth Art Gallery in Pegram, TN. And I’ve recently set up an online store through my website. The latest exciting news is that one of my industrial sculpture pieces, “Assimilation #2,” was chosen for the inaugural exhibit, “Voices of Nashville,” in the Soundwaves Gallery at the new Nashville Soccer Club!

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The decision to leave a stable job was not easy, but my husband continues to encourage and support me in all my crazy, creative endeavors. He now has his workstations in my glass shop, and I’m teaching him the craft of kiln-forming glass!

This journey continues to be a rollercoaster of making mistakes, enjoying successes, struggling with finances, finding opportunities to exhibit and sell my work, handling social media, building my website, etc. And just getting my glass shop set up and maintained in our detached garage is an ongoing activity.

One very poignant time springs to mind: in 2016, after just being accepted into the “Periscope: Artist Entrepreneur Training” program, all U.S. sources for a material I rely on, kiln compatible tested glass, were put to EPA scrutiny and several of the few remaining went out of business. I began exploring other glass options and had to scramble to re-invent my art so I could participate in the program and ultimately pitch my art business at their competitive event. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit (shutting down exhibits and shows), I chose to make another hard pivot toward a focus on retail works. Fortunately, one U.S. manufacturer survived and has remained focused on environmental safety, and I am now proud to use their premium, hand-rolled glass in my works! I’m super grateful for my hometown and loads of support and friendship from other artists and folks in the art business side of things.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a self-taught interdisciplinary, mixed media artist focused on kiln-formed glass. I specialize in one-of-a-kind sculptural collections for walls and surfaces and small-batch decorative, functional, and wearable art. My pieces are primarily made with glass, upcycled metal parts, and metals fused into the glass, like copper and sterling silver.

I started making cast glass pocket hearts with scrap glass and giving them to people who looked like they could use a little TLC. They became popular, so I created the “Heartsparks” collection of glow-in-the-dark pendants that many locals recognize on sight. They’re a real conversation starter, a great way to make new friends and cultivate new collectors. In fact, during the quarantine, my cousin and I worked with Needlink Nashville on a fundraising campaign by selling them and donating the proceeds.

I’ve always kept the attitude that “if someone else can do it, so can I,” and I try to use my determination and dedication to the craft to make a more beautiful world, with no expectation of becoming well-known. I was floored when Nashville Arts Magazine chose to publish a 4-page article on my work, and Tennessee Crossroads filmed a segment about me! Occasionally I’m approached by people who say something like, “Hey, aren’t you that glass lady?” or “didn’t I see you on TV”? Honestly, that never gets old! I am so proud and humbled to be recognized by such prestigious media. I still feel like a gal making stuff in her garage!

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
Oh, yes, many! Because I am self-taught, I purchase books and e-books for techniques (including those from FusedGlass.org and other master glass artists), participate in open discussions with other artists on Facebook groups, listen to podcasts (e.g., Talking Out Your Glass), I listen to NPR and lots of music! And I cannot overstate the importance of my friendships with other artists.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.aeshep.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/aeshep3
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/artworkcubed

Image Credits
Feature image of me, pro shot by Judith Hill Photography. All other images by Alice Shepherd.