Meet Jenny Reacer of New Braunfels

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Reacer.

Hi Jenny, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I was privileged to have craftspeople on both sides of my family. We did not have much materially but the lack of wealth was substituted for a greater treasure: hands on learning and problem solving. As the ancient parable goes, I wasn’t given a fish but was taught how to fish. How to make do with what you have or make something yourself! I observed and assisted my father in his art of pinstriping at car shows and customizing hot rods by the dozen, learned how to sew from my grandmother, built houses with my carpenter uncles and gained insight into patience and spirituality from my mother.

So it was inevitable that I would work with my hands. I spent much of my teen years deconstructing and redesigning vintage clothes from thrift shops hoping I would someday be a fashion designer who would utilize recycle textiles. While that dream was always in the back of my mind, my wise parents wanted me to learn how to work for someone before I worked for myself. The work I’ve done over the years has always kept me on my feet and working with my hands but the thought of doing something more meaningful was always there. I had hobbies and other pursuits I loved such as playing guitar and volunteering overseas. But my brain kept going back to art and design as a career. My goal was to create with a positive impact on the environment and make a living at the same time. And that time finally came, unbeknownst to me!

Since 2013, I have been creating upcycled lighting from auto parts, scrap metal, vintage and other items people consider trash. The start of this venture came from my uncle who, after multiple back surgeries, could no longer mechanic and started welding bits and pieces of random engine parts together to make art. He generously taught me to weld after I saw what he was up to and realized THIS is what I want! Yes, I wanted to be sweaty, covered in rust and dirt, frustrated and occasionally burned by a stray piece of hot metal! And that was that, I finally found the path to make functional art that would use items headed for a landfill, with the goal to show how we can reuse almost anything. For a few years we set up at art & craft shows together with our crazy, heavy, strange pieces in tow to the delight and sometimes confusion of onlookers. Eventually I started doing shows on my own such as the Pecan Street Festival, Cherrywood Art Fair, Gruene Market Days and more. Commissioned work brings me great joy as I am usually working with items of sentimental value to a customer. The name of my business, Carvel Vintage, comes from a mixture of my father’s first and middle name Michael Carvan. And my life is of the retro-vintage nature. This synopsis of my life may sound simple but there have been and will be a multitude of challenges that come with starting and maintaining your own small business. Here are a few life lessons I’ve learned along the way. I hope this helps anyone who is an aspiring artist or starting a side hustle! -Keep your overhead low. While I would love to own a gallery/storefront and shiny new workshop, those costs would have to be passed on to my customers.

One of the selling points for my art is price. I do not undercut the value of what I create but believe everyone should be able to afford a one of a kind pieces of art. My price range is $60-700 with an average price around $200. -Be a rainbow in a sea of gray. Choose a medium or offer a service that few are doing and stand out! This also applies in the way you treat others. We should applaud our fellow artisans and crafters instead of viewing them as competition. And half of your customer base will come from how you made them feel, not what you made. -Be grateful and stay humble. In the era of COVID, I’ve had to pick up extra work, like many of my colleagues, to pay the bills. It can be a bit of a gut shot when you have to scale down or shut down something you’ve worked so hard to build. But I’m well aware that I’m one of the fortunate few who have the privilege of following their dreams. So I am universally thankful for what I have done and will continue to do.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life isn’t supposed to be an easy road! But there’s a certain beauty in a bumpy road. If you never travel a bumpy road, you cannot appreciate a smooth one. The past decade has taught me perseverance and patience. Sustaining a small art business is hard. Keeping the creative juices flowing is harder. And navigating through tragedy and COVID can feel insurmountable. Honing my art form was an interesting time. Not only was I learning how to weld but I was using rusty scrap metal and other objects that were never made to be joined. Designing pieces was an even bigger challenge because I didn’t know in advance what I would collect. So most of the time Plan A turned into Plan B, C, D or E! And that was the easy part. With my pieces and collections finally assembled and illuminated, it was time to apply for art & craft shows, hope to be accepted and then be the first artist to set up and almost the last to break down because what I make does not pack or travel easily! Those were the days I asked myself, “Why can’t I have a normal job in a climate controlled building?”. But any creative mind knows the answer to that question. Then just at the time I felt like I was reaching a marvelous peak with my business, my very close knit family experienced a terrible tragedy in 2017.

One hour after my grandfather passed away we received a call that my 13 year old cousin was killed in a terrible auto accident and his older brother was in critical condition. The driver, a trusted family friend, was also killed by the wrong way driver. This rocked me to my core and affected every aspect of mine and my families lives. I could not find the mental energy to create for quite some time. One day my husband suggested I go to my workshop, don’t do any work, and listen to my favorite music. I wound up having a one person dance party that day! Of course it takes more than dancing to heal from such a tragedy, But that moment gave me a new appreciation for the amazing people in my life who care so much for me.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My medium is defined by the art world as “Mixed Media”. What I do is combine objects that were headed for a landfill or scrapyard to make artistic lamps, lighting and home goods. This is done by welding, heating, cutting or otherwise manipulating an object to achieve the desired design. My art is dual purpose: sculpture and illumination. I want people to be able to utilize the things I create and have my pieces interact with their everyday life. I take great pride in working with commissioned pieces as I usually work with items of sentimental value to a customer. A father and son restored a Chevy Camaro together and gave me the old parts to make an illuminated wall piece for their garage. A lifelong Navy man allowed me to work with a historic plank of wood from Pearl Harbor. And a floor lamp was created for a lovely lady with a vintage boat motor that belonged to her father. These items are no longer stored out of sight or collecting dust, they are now functioning pieces of art to be enjoyed! In addition to being one of the few women who do what I do, I’ve found a niche in the art market which sets me apart. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s okay. Every individual that comes to my booth at an art event will not select a piece to take home. But they always leave with a smile on their face! I want to evoke nostalgia, humor and pleasure in your mind and heart when you see my creations.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Many artists and consumers have been shifting their focus to environmentally friendly design. At this point, that mentality cannot change. And while we can’t all live off-grid on the Taos Mesa, we can individually give thought to things we dispose of and purchase. I see a bright future for us artists who choose Upcycled or recycled mediums and know we will continue to receive support from our local communities.

Contact Info:

• Email: carvelvintage@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.carvelvintage.com/
• Instagram: @carvelvintage
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carvelvintage/