Growing Aims

“Looking into the beautiful abyss, while chewing glass.” That’s how Steve Jobs eloquently described his early entrepreneurial journey. After a few years of ups and downs here at New Age Artisans, I can attest that the late, great pioneer of our modern technological movement was on to something with his lucid description. Ideas spark enthusiasm, which becomes a catalyst for action - and it’s the idea, or dividends from the idea that provide the beautiful futural view, but it’s the day-to-day minutia of each individual task that stands in the way of the entrepreneur and their fruitful idea that can feel like an overwhelming grind. Alas, it’s these crazed visions of grandeur - something different from the status quo that will provide enthusiasm to not let a simple “no” stand in your way. Tireless evolving thoughts of something bigger, something noteworthy to celebrate the craft of plaster provided a metaphorical horizon to an already charmed career and dictated my every day for the past few years until I succumbed to the calling. It’s this journey of discovery and the lessons I continually learn that will continue to usher New Age Artisans into its next chapter and provide the necessary sheen to keep the notion of growth attractive. As Jobs also said, “the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

I’m not sure if The Plaster Portal will change the world, but I know it will at least help the trades and more importantly, tradesfolk.

So much work and determination went into learning and teaching myself a craft over a 2-decade period that it seemed re-miss to not share my hard-earned lessons through education and plaster sales. The conceptual theory was transcendent, yet as Jobs forecasted, the struggle of enactment was indeed real, because I know now that clear articulation of my obscure view was lacking. As days slogged into months, it was no secret that changes among the company were happening, and it was evident to many as to why they were happening, while others remained aloof. But “what” exactly was happening? That was a bigger question, and one that I could not fully describe - because the planted seeds of success hadn’t come to fruition and fully developed, even in my own brain. As I continued to stare into the prospects of prosperity with wide and optimistic eyes, I attempted to tread gracefully amidst a daily ritual of abrasive and jarring disconnects of inventory stock, employee retention, contracting designs, color consultations, warehouse remodeling, and podcast creation, until I was forced to face my hardest challenge yet - MYSELF.

I’m determined, stubborn, optimistic, and kind. All endearing traits independently, yet a recipe for potential doom and disaster if misguided in the world of business. To succeed in this new business chapter, there needed to be an introspective approach as to “why” I was proverbially building a turbulent plane while flying it.

Thankfully, over the course of the choppy ride, several kind souls introduced me to a few good reads that served as inspiration and provided solace amidst abysmal grinds that helped me stay on course - hopeful clarity to cloudy skies. The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin is a pragmatic approach to ethereal thought and stresses Rick’s notion that innovation isn’t about what the world wants today, but what it will need tomorrow. This simple thought amongst thousands of other lessons detailed in the book gave me hope and solidified my convictions that I wasn’t totally crazy. Cameron Herold’s Vivid Vision gave me a sturdy framework to help cultivate and articulate my wild and crazy dreams of a bigger plaster future. Meanwhile, Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s Who NOT How set the stage for an entirely new realization and reality - one which transcended modern paradigms of transactional relationships, and instead propelled hopeful connections into transformational realities, far beyond what the contracting world typically dares to imagine.

Educate. Empower. Create.

Three singular words that carry initial power on their own, yet when combined, form an entirely new reality - providing a mission for New Age Artisans and inspiring others to enter the trades. The message, peculiar as it may seem, creates a new paradigm in which a competitor could now become a customer. The past 24 months have been full of so much struggle, and so much strife- and alas, I’ve found myself in the show of life. No longer do I ignore what I don’t understand. I’ve come to relish challenges amongst new developments and consistently find ways to pave the future while armed with information from the past, making prudent decisions from both the head and the heart. As we joyfully progress with the platform, I’m reminded of the experiences that helped sculpt the present and the gained confidence that could only be garnered through trial and error.

With many victories under our belt recently, it seems a proper moment to reflect on the path taken. Because, it’s THIS entrepreneurial journey that set the stage and paved the way for Evan Wilmes to push away from the gate of security at New Age Artisans and set out into the unknown to create his own reality at Plaster. Bozeman - an intentional practice.

After years of employment, countless trips to expansive jobsites, and thousands of square feet of installed dedication, it was time for Evan to do the obvious - GROW. While many in the industry fear their employees leaving in search of greener pastures, we at New Age Artisans have evolved to celebrate it. With these ideas held close and the resource of the unique and expansive platform, our aim is to support and promote collaborative entrepreneurship. Our applicators come to our creative team for color consultations, detailed specifications, material support, and project leads. What was once a competitive race has become a collaborative dance - celebrating the strengths of both parties to ensure flourishing results for both outside contractors and New Age Artisans.

A true artist at heart, Evan is well-read, introspective, creative, and motivated. A pillar and contributor to The Verge Theatre, he consistently weaves plaster into his acting roles as well as providing props of abstract art that highlights his perspectives on color theory and dimensional form. According to Evan, “Plaster captures movement in stillness, the tension of muscles strained, trowel stroke after trowel stroke, all settled down, like chaos into silence, a place for light, air, and imagination to play amidst surfaces.” It’s countless hours in the limelight that conjure these thoughts and it’s the New Age Artisans platform that cherishes, supports, and fosters these tender actions to emote progress and dedication to every wall completed.

Since the creation of The Plaster Portal in 2023, Evan and countless other contractors, designers, architects, builders, and DIY applicators have successfully completed fireplaces, backsplashes, and large-scale projects, throughout the United States and beyond. In a business of safe bets and caged feelings, the reward has been far sweeter than the risk amongst our newly cultivated synergistic relationships. As the dream of these evolved thoughts progresses, we have learned so much and will continue to push forward into the future - investing time, energy, and money into our products, services, and platform. In a world of dwindling attention spans and click-and-stick emotions, we need more access to authenticity. The trades grant that. It’s our pleasure to provide opportunities and access that wouldn’t have existed beforehand. Interested in a new horizon for yourself or someone you know? Reach out to us to learn more and join the movement. Our community is growing every day. We’ve already chewed glass, so you don’t have to.