1. Give us a high level overview of your business and what people can expect from your business.

I am an artist who paints in oils and watercolors. I divide my time between painting portraits and other paintings on commission and also painting Fort Worth subjects for a local gallery, Galerie Kornye West.

2. How long have you been in business?

I have been in business for 30 years.

3. Who are your current customers?

I am currently working on several portrait commissions. My clients currently include the Dean of Harvard Divinity School, the President of the the New York County Bar Association as well as several families for whom I’m painting portraits. I have also recently been commissioned to paint a series of paintings for Texas Christian University.

4. What are some of the main reasons you like living/doing business in this area?

My wife and I moved to downtown Fort Worth about 3 years ago. My studio is within walking distance of where we live, as is the downtown area. Fort Worth feels very comfortable – not too large and yet with so much to offer.

5. Tell us more about your own story and why you started this business in the first place.

After graduating from UTA with a Fine Arts degree, I decided I needed further education and attended Art Center College of Design in California. After graduating from there in 1982 my wife and I moved back to this area to begin my career. Many of my illustrations in those early years were for Fort Worth clients, including Shakespeare In The Park posters and advertisements for local companies. With the advent of the computer, the business of illustration began to change and much of the work an illustrator was hired to do was now done on the computer. I was not interested in working on the computer and gravitated toward painting commissioned portraits and gallery paintings.

6. What have been some of your biggest challenges?

Making a living as a self-employed artist, especially during hard economic times.

7. What are some defining moments that made you grow to the level you are at today?

The fantastic education I received at Art Center College of Design certainly was a defining moment of growth. I wouldn’t be where I am now without that. Another defining moment came in 1988. An illustration I did for an article on Phil Walden, the owner of Capricorn Records, in Southern Magazine (now defunct) led to requests for commissioned portraits. A few years ago I met Paula Kornye Tillman which led me into painting for her gallery, which has been the fulfillment of a long time dream to paint what I’m inspired to paint and have a venue for selling it.

8. Tell us about some interesting/funny/crazy things that have happened within your business.

Spending an afternoon with Governor Ann Richards after being commissioned to paint her official portrait was an interesting and fun experience. When my sitting with her was finished, I was supposed to get a taxi to the Austin airport but she insisted on giving me a ride. You get a lot of looks when you’re driving around Austin with Ann Richards!

9. If someone is looking to purchase what you offer, what advice can you give to help them make the best buying decision?

If someone is looking to commission a portrait, I would suggest contacting a portrait agency, such as Portraits Inc. They represent many artists with a wide degree of styles and prices. Or they can just call me. And if someone is looking for fine art to hang on their walls I would recommend visiting Galerie Kornye West in Fort Worth.

James also has a great blog and website where you can see more of his amazing work.

1. Give us a high level overview of your business and what people can expect from your business.

Legacy Arts, Coins & Collectibles was established to create an environment that provides truly unique pieces of art along with the ability to purchase gold, silver, or coins all in one location. Additionally, we give our customers that opportunity to not only invest in art and bullion but also sports memorabilia. All of these types of products will only go up in value for those looking to invest in the future.

2. How long have you been in business?

Our first business has been in operation for over a year. Our store front has been opened since June of this year.

3. Who are your current customers?

Currently, because of our wide variety of products, we have customers from 10 years old to 70 years old.

4. What makes your company unique?

Our company is very unique in the fact that you cannot find all three components in one store. Our business model is truly “outside the box” thinking and that’s a gamble we are willing to take.

5. What are some of the main reasons you like living/doing business in this area?

We living and doing business in Fort Worth because I was born and raised here. Our art gallery wants to establish and show a “Main Street Arts Festival” year-round. We love the festival and believe that Fort Worth can broaden its’ artist flavor to more diverse types of artwork.

6. Tell us more about your own story and why you started this business in the first place.

As previously mentioned I was born and raised in Fort Worth and attended Paschal High School. I joined the US Air Force almost immediately after high school and recently retired in 2009. The opportunities that the service provided me along with leadership and the opportunity at higher education planted the seed that I, with hard work, can do almost anything. Opening a business was at the top of the list.

My wife and I started our on-line business, Jason-n-Jada-Collectibles last year on e-Bay, as a form of additional income so she could be a stay at home mom for our 1 year old. We quickly learned a lot in those first few months and then once we got the hang of it, we started to see nice sales returns. To date, our on-line business will exceed over $400K in a year. It was the potential that really made us realize that hard work and taking care of our customers is beneficial to the business.

Fast forward to March of this year and an “out of the blue” phone call from a relative about an art venture is what really catapulted the idea of an art gallery.

The venture with my relative is still on the back-burner but upon looking for an “art gallery” is when I found the perfect location, store, and venue to have all three ventures in one!

7. What have been some of your biggest challenges?

Our biggest challenge is letting everyone know were here! I’ve advertised in DFW.com, Fort Worth Weekly, the Movie Tavern on 7th, Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, and on KLIF radio. This doesn’t even include the menus for Paris Coffee shop and Dixie House Café. We’ve also stated in various ads that we are located right next to legendary “Kincaid’s Hamburgers.”

8. What are some defining moments that made you grow to the level you are at today?

This remains to be seen with the exception of meeting a lot of great people like our artist and those associated with art events and functions.

9. Tell us about some interesting/funny/crazy things that have happened within your business.

As mentioned previously, we have meet some very interesting people in the art community.

10. How has your company changed over the past year?

Ever-changing!

11. What kind of trends are you noticing in your industry that might effect our community?

I’ve noticed that more and more people are really being drawn to art work. Art work, I believe, opens the mind and soul and lets you escape whatever ails you, at least for the moment however brief.

12. If someone is looking to purchase what you offer, what advice can you give to help them make the best buying decision?

With regards to art work, if you are entranced by a piece of art work, then that is the first phase of finding what you connect with. Additionally, when dealing with something that is “pretty or neat,” this should not be the sole factor in purchasing a piece of art work. You should really connect with the art work, not just think it’s pretty…kind of like when you establish a romantic relationship!

13. What are some of the current events or promotions taking place at your business?

We are really excited because we believe that the Fort Worth Art Dealers Association (FWADA) Fall Gallery Night is our true coming out party! We are in the brochure and on the map for this huge event. Also, with regards to thinking “outside the box,” we will have a Crazyfish Sushi, a Sushi food truck on-site. Additionally, we will participate in Musicarte Fort Worth on the 6th of October and the Near Southside Art Goggle on the 13th of October.

If you don’t have any good referrals from family, friends or coworkers then your best bet isto find a mover online. If you know someone who has just moved in then ask them what company they used and what they thought of the service. Word of mouth references are a good to way to find the best movers.

When looking for a good moving company then you should use a company that has a local representative that can come to your home. It is important to point out that an internet or over-the-phone quote can often be unreliable because each person’s inventory of belongings is usually very different.

It is also important to point out that some of the big and well known names may not be the best moving companies and it is true that the lesser known and small companies help to give that personal touch.

Once you have gathered a list of companies from the phone book, internet and simple word-of-mouth then you should call the Better Business Bureau to check that the companies have a good reputation in the local community or if any complaints have been lodged against them.

In order to find the best Fort Worth moving companies being bonded, licensed and insured professionals are essential. You need to remember that these are the people who will be handling your goods so therefore it is vital that they have insurance in case of an accident.

You should try to narrow down your list to 3 companies and then your next step should be to make appointments for each of them to come to your house to look at the contents and provide you with a written estimate. Check the estimate carefully to ensure that you are aware of what is included and what is not.

Finally you should always keep an inventory of your belongings before the moving company drive away. If you follow these tips then finding the best moving company should be much easier for you. If you need a list of local Fort Worth movers click here.

Click the image below and use your mouse to drag the image.  You can drag the image of Fort Woof into a complete 360.

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Free Things to do in Fort Worth:

• Go to a Park. Fort Worth has 257 parks, 158 of those being neighborhood parks. Here is a link to a PDF which has a complete list of Fort Worth parks.
• Go to Fort Woof. Fort Woof is a great place to take your dog. If you don’t have a dog, you can still go enjoy this activity.
• Play Disc Golf. Fort Worth has some great disc golf courses around the city. Zebos disc golf and Gateway Park are some of the more popular disc gold courses around Fort Worth.
• Walk the Trinity Trails. 
• Go to the Fort Worth Stockyards. If you want to learn some Fort Worth history, the stockyards is a great place to visit. The stockyards has a daily cattle drive. It is the world’s only twice daily cattle drive. You can get information about the cattle drive and other cowtown activities here.
• Go to a mall. Fort Worth has two major malls. Hulen and Ridgmar mall.
• Go to free Fort Worth museums. Some of the local Fort Worth museums have a collection that visitors can normally view for free. Before going to one of these museums, we would recommend calling to see if they have any free activities at the time.  Some of Fort Worth’s museums include: Amon Carter, Kimbell Art, Modern Art, Will Rogers Memorial Center, Casa Manana, National Cowgirl, and the Fort Worth museum of Science and History.
• Go Hiking or Biking on the Trinity or Benbrook trails. Here is a map of the Trinity Trails.
• Play Tennis. Fort Worth has several tennis courts in the neighborhood and city parks around the city. Find a court around your area and play some tennis.

This list of free thing to do in Fort Worth will continue to grow as we come across more free activities. Feel free to leave a comment or contact us with free activity you enjoy in Fort Worth.

To lower your auto insurance rate keep the following points in mind.

• Obey traffic laws and avoid getting traffic violations. This is the number one cause of increasing auto insurance rates. Speeding violations and any other traffic violation will cause your Fort Worth auto insurance rate to spike.
• Letting your Fort Worth insurance agent know of all the safety features you have on your car will reduce your auto insurance rate. All these safety features cut the risk of accidents and theft, which Fort Worth insurance companies like to hear!
• Wear your seatbelt! Also, make everyone riding in your car wear their seatbelt. Not only is it the law, but it keeps everyone in your car safe.
• Keep your car simple. This means don’t upgrade and make your car faster or add any special “bling” to your car. This is a good way to waste money on auto insurance. For most people, a car is just for getting from point A to point B, so keep it simple and remove any add-ons or special additions. This will get you the lowest auto insurance in Fort Worth.

Call Today: (817) 454-0360

2. How long have you been in business?
I’ve been in business for 3 years.

3. Who are your current customers?
I recently did a profile shoot for Castlehills Pediatric group in Carrolton.

4. What makes your company unique?
My clients find that I am easy to work with and very dependable.  I also want to leave clients 100% satisfied.

5. What are some of the main reasons you like living/doing business in this area?
Fort Worth has some beautiful places to shoot outside.  The Japanesse Gardens are amazing as well as the Water Gardens down town.

6. Tell us more about your own story and why you started this business in the first place.
Like most photographers, it began as a hobby.  Then some friends ask you to shoot their wedding or take pictures of their baby.  Word of mouth sort of takes over from there.

7. What have been some of your biggest challenges?
Timing.  Timing is everything especially when shooting outdoors.  Is the place going to be crowded? Can we be there at the golden hour or early morning?

8. What are some defining moments that made you grow to the level you are at today?
Probably getting the courage to shoot my first wedding.  There’s a lot of pressure there.

9. Tell us about some interesting/funny/crazy things that have happened within your business.
Well, I host a bunch of my pictures online for friends and prospective clients to see.  It’s always weird when someone who does an internet search for like, “circus people” comes to your site and emails you about using a photo.  All my blog photos are downloadable.

10. How has your company changed over the past year?
Not much.  Personally, I don’t know if I’m ready for big-time growth.  Right now, my clients know that they can contact me personally for anything.

11. If someone is looking to purchase what you offer, what advice can you give to help them make the best buying decision?
Spend some time with the Fort Worth photographer before choosing one.  Meet at Starbucks.  Get a vibe.  Just because he or she takes good pictures doesn’t mean they are awesome to work with.

12. What are some of the current events or promotions taking place at Amelia Sky Photography?
As always, we are available to do creative, event and corporate photography.

2. How long have you been in business? 
Since September of 2011. Still getting started!

3. Who are your current customers?
Ladies of all ages & generations. I have had customers that were 18 that range all the way up to their 60′s. I think it just depends on each individual’s personal style, which is why Mad Jewels is great because each piece is unique.

4. Tell us more about your own story and why you started this business in the first place.
I originally wanted to go to college for Metal Smithing & jewelry making, but mom & dad said it wasn’t practical, so I decided to venture into Spanish & business classes. I have always been a crafty girl, if you will, and always loved making things by hand whether it be painting, wood work, sewing, etc. I feel like I can look at something pretty for inspiration and then put it into a piece of jewelry, or wearable art, that envelopes a flavor for something else. Being jewelry obsessed is probably what drives me. I get butterflies and so excited when I see a piece of jewelry or handbag or anything that I just “have to have.” I have to say that is probably a girls’ feeling if they enjoy shopping and using fashion as self expression, but I want to be able to give people (customers) that same feeling I get when I see something I die for. I am also very passionate about making jewelry & I think because I want everyone to love it as much as I do, I will stop at nothing to make sure it is what people want.

5. What have been some of your biggest challenges?
Finding the time & motivation to eat, sleep & drink making jewelry outside of my regular 40 hour work week. It is difficult to get a business going and started when you have other obligations to attend to first.

6. If someone is looking to purchase what you offer, what advice can you give to help them make the best buying decision? 
You can’t go wrong with any piece. All of Mad Jewels is all mix-and-match style, unique in its’ own flair. All of my pieces so far are VERY affordable, at $34 for the most expensive piece. A lot of times jewelry is looked at as an “investment”, but then consumers worry about “trends” and if it will go out of style. I’d like to think that jewelry never goes out of style, it just changes on how you use it to style your outfits. Also at $34, if someone decides later on down the road that it is not for them anymore or their style has evolved (as everyones’ does), then the customer is not out a lot of money.

7. What are some of the current events or promotions taking place at Mad Jewels?
Currently have some upcoming meetings to look at getting it into some boutiques & eventually to market. For now, customers can shop online at etsy.com/people/madjewels2011 where shipping is always free. Also, become a fan on facebook: Facebook.com/madjewels2011 for the most current updates. Look here for info on where it will be sold in stores, flea markets, etc.