John D. Beatie Artist - Blacksmith
In the early 90s, John had an opportunity to attend an apprenticeship program in woodcarving, pottery, or blacksmithing through the prestigious John C. Campbell Folk School.
As a young boy, John was given a woodcarving knife and immediately cut his finger. He had worked with Clayhorse Pottery doing bronze and aluminum casting some years earlier, so he decided to try something entirely different.
In 1992, John completed the Mentor/Apprenticeship Program in Blacksmithing from John C. Campbell under Master blacksmiths from across the country. He began making small tools and gifts for friends and family.
In 1997, he established his blacksmith shop and participated in his first art/craft show. He has participated in art and craft shows in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. He has received several awards in shows for his work. He demonstrates blacksmithing at local shows and events using a traditional coal forge.
John enjoys forging works from ideas that just seem to spring from random thoughts or a shape that crosses his path in his day-to-day life. He enjoys working with customers on custom works by their design, his design, or a combination of both.
"It is greatly satisfying knowing the customer is getting exactly what they wanted and that I was able to be a part of that. On many occasions, customers have searched for weeks or months trying to make something work or find just the right design, and often they can bring their ideas to me and together we can figure out a solution or a design that gives them a functional or decorative handmade piece of ironwork that outlasts a lifetime. There is just something so neat knowing that in this modern day of advanced technology that the work I do everyday is done with the same basic tools that were used hundreds of years ago by blacksmiths; that being fire, hammer, and anvil. Its also fun to play with fire and get dirty all day."
John is a member of Artist - Blacksmith Association of North America, Alabama Forge Council, Alex Bealer Guild, Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, Gilmer Arts & Heritage Association, Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, Tri County Business Association, and Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce.