Today we’d like to introduce you to Preston Oliver.
Hi Preston, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I learned string art in a high school art class where we each made our own chosen designs. I created a KU Jay hawk as my very first string art and brought it home to show my parents. I was very happy with how it turned out and I wanted to make more designs. I decided to start giving them as gifts so I made a string art of a Starbucks logo for my friend’s birthday and then gifted my sister with a Pitt State Gorilla. They both loved them and I loved making them so figured I could start making them for some money and try and grow my hobby. Over the past 7 years, I have created over 200 string art pieces, including logos, names, symbols, portraits, etc. I am always looking for new creative challenges that will take my craft to the next level!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My biggest struggle has nothing to do with the art itself but rather the time commitment that goes into making a piece. Each piece will take at least 10 hours with most of them taking closer to 15-20 hours. Some of my big ones will take up to 50-60 hours. Prioritizing my time between family, string art, work, and school is something I have really had to work on over the years in order to keep doing the hobby I love.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a string artist. I start off by cutting a plywood board to the exact dimensions of the design I’m creating. I either stain the wood or paint it the customers desired color. I then apply a finish to the wood making the wood more durable and a giving it a cleaner look. I then begin the nailing process. I take a picture of the design I want to create and place it on the wood. From there, I can figure out where each nail needs to go. Depending on the size and complexity of the design, I could have over 1000 nails in one piece. After I’m done with all the nailing, I start the stringing process. I use the photo of the design as a reference and I fill in the string to match the photo. This the longest process usually taking twice as long as the nailing. After I’m done stringing, I can encase the whole project in a deep pour epoxy resin to make it last for years to come! The epoxy is crystal clear and it gives the piece a glass like finish at the end.
I’m most proud of my ability to bring out the realism in photos using nails and string. That’s something I have really been working on these past couple years doing realistic people and pet portraits. My attention to detail is what allows me to achieve these realistic results and that’s what sets me apart from others.
What are your plans for the future?
I recently did my first art show at Art Westport where I brought several pieces to show case and sell. The show went very well between sales and getting my name out there. I want to do more of these shows going forward so I can share my art with as many people as possible. Eventually, I would like my art to be all over the city; in restaurants, art exhibits, stores, etc. I want people across the whole city to be able to appreciate my time and commitment to my craft.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://PrestonStringArt.com
- Instagram: Prestonstringart
- Facebook: Prestonstringart
