​All credit goes to my wife and artist Christina Twomey.

To watch our excerpt go to  youtu.be/DJvXFGJqXRU

The full episode is available in AMAZON PRIME and we'd love you to watch and support the other artists and creators that the show highlights! 

Amazon Prime - Destination LA - Episode 4

I'm so proud of Christina for venturing into the unknown and the results...are spectacular.

All I've learned is credited to her and I'm humbled to be part of our adventure. 

Keep creating babe!

​Hubs

Taping is complete and we had such a fun time! 

Our episode will air this fall and we are REALLY EXCITED!!

More details to come!!

I'm excited to announce some new press through SHOUTOUT LA!

The publication reached out about a month ago after they finished an interview with the artist Christina Twomey (also my wife). 

I'm honored to be featured among many other talented artists and creators. 

You can read the full article here!

Below is one of my favorite excerpts from the article. Please take a read if you have a moment!

SO: Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

BM: I’d like to dedicate my “Shout-Out” to my wife (and talented artist) Christina Twomey. If she has not wandered into a Joann Fabrics one day to get a canvas and try painting, I would not be a furniture maker today. I have been with her for her entire journey with art as her husband and her biggest fan. That led to me helping her, and then working with her, learning from her, and ultimately getting my first client from her. I am eternally grateful to Christina and luckily, I get to thank her every day!

Website: http://www.marsdendesigns.com
Instagram: @marsden_designs
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbymarsden/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobby.marsden

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About SHOUTOUT LA

Every day we ask our contributors and interviewees questions designed to spark meaningful conversations.  We ask questions about life, work, love, parenting, finances, and more. Questions like how you think about risk-taking, work-life balance, or online dating. We ask entrepreneurs why they started their business and we ask artists what their work is inspired by.
We think meaningful conversations are at the heart of community building.  We also think every voice matters and that these conversations shouldn’t be led by billionaires, media elites, or celebrities.  We feel it’s far more relevant to hear from the folks who make up the fabric of our communities – small business owners, mom-and-pops, and independent artists and creatives.
Shoutout LA is part of the Los Angeles based Voyage Group of Magazines and our flagship publication, VoyageLA was started in 2015.  Since then we’ve grown to almost a dozen cities, generated millions of page views and helped tens of thousands of entrepreneurs and creatives share their stories. Along the way we’ve built a vibrant and highly engaged community and Shoutout is about giving that community an opportunity to go beyond stories.  By focusing on topics that are relevant to almost everyone we hope to inspire important conversations within the community and do so in way that puts artists, creatives and local businesses at the center of these conversations.



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How strange is it to announce gallery representation during COVID...when no galleries are open?

Most things I do could be considered strange so I'm doing it anyway. This gallery operates differently though in that it focuses it's efforts ONLINE! It's COVID proof. Maybe. I'm excited nonetheless!

Gallery13 is owned/operated by Stephen Sugarman who has been in the business for decades. I'm very excited to be part of his roster of talented artists. Humbled would be a good word to use. 

You can see our online collection soon on ARTSY.COM! You may also peruse the works of Christina Twomey on this site. How cool is it that a husband and wife are repped on the same site? I have no idea how cool it is but we feel cool. 

ABOUT THE GALLERY
Gallery 13 represents international emerging and mid-career contemporary artists with a central concentration on abstraction and a sincere heart for the work of contemporary American Upper Midwest artists. Curators Karen and Stephen Sugarman.
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The gallery was founded in 2005 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by curators and artists Karen and Stephen Sugarman. The industrial-chic gallery in Minneapolis quickly gained status as a center for groundbreaking sculptural and 2D exhibitions. The Sugarman’s reputation grew as curators “who are among the best at encouraging and finding new talents from increasingly diverse backgrounds” (Minnesota Monthly). Over the years the Sugarman’s expanded the gallery into larger spaces, ventured into multi-dimensional exhibitions that included art and music and exhibitions that dove into the birth of cutting-edge digital and computerized art and art experiences. In 2019 Karen and Stephen took the next step in the future of art and moved the gallery to the digital platform.

I am THRILLED at this opportunity to create an amazing coffee table that will become part of an overall design led by the very talented group at DEEP RIVER PARTNERS!

I am so fortunate that one of the designers that has commissioned work from my wife (and talented artist) Christina Twomey recently took a new position at Deep River Partners. They are handling all aspects of interior design for a beautiful home in Milwaukee, WI. This home is going to be STUNNING and I am humbled that I'll have the opportunity to design and build a coffee table that reflects lake life and luxury. 

The inspiration is driven by black walnut, which is prevalent in the yard surrounding the house.

Our initial plan is to embrace this beautiful wood slab and create a "river table' that inspires and reflects the luxurious deigns elements that will surround the table. 

Stay tuned for more updates on this! 

ABOUT DEEP RIVER PARTNERS
Deep River Partners, Ltd. specializes in residential design including renovation, remodeling, new estates, historic renovation, and condominium build-outs. Their esteemed Architects and Interior Designers provide a holistic design process that produces creative and personalized solutions reflecting each client’s vision.

Applying an acute knowledge of residential product and systems, their team of experts pays attention to every detail. They successfully integrate the disciplines of architecture, interior design, lighting and mechanical design, finish and furniture selection, site design, landscaping, and water feature design into seamless environments that encourage people to flourish. Deep River's services include project assessment, architectural and interior design, construction documents, competitive bidding, and construction administration.

Their impressive client list includes top executives of major national and international companies that have trusted all phases of their project to Deep River. Serving clients across the United States, they have completed projects in Charleston, SC, Flagstaff, AZ, Palm Desert, CA, Telluride, CO, and on premiere waterfront properties including the shores of Lake Michigan.

Each unique project is produced in a client centric process that consistently exceeds expectations with regional, creative, and unique designs, risk management through detailed documents, lower costs resulting from competitive bidding and fixed contracts, and a thoughtful, low stress, and managed experience from initial assessment through move in and beyond.

WOW!

My wife (and talented artist) Christina said it best - "Who starts their business add gets three commissions in it's first month?!"

I have no idea if this is normal. 

I do know that I create amazing pieces of furniture so maybe the work is speaking for itself. 

So crazy nonetheless. I am humbled and grateful. 

Working in advertising for the last 15 years...I know how important a logo is. 

Especially when you plan on burning it into every piece of furniture or sculpture that you create. And I do. 

I wanted the best logo imaginable. So I hired the best. I also hired someone that I shared a birthday with... but the the real and ONLY reason I hired Clinton Lugert - is because he is the best. 

Which meant I was a CLIENT! (gasp...gag...)

Actually...I may go down as one of the best clients Clint has ever worked with. My words...not his. 

Clint gave me the white glove, five star, VIP experience from the get-go. We explored the meaning behind the brand I wanted to create. We talked about symbolism. We got deep. I got emotional. Clint got creative. 

We landed on what you see below. I am SO thrilled to have this baller logo. Clint nailed it - as usual. Just like he nails every picture he is in. 

This Pandemic has made many of us ask the question..."What the HELL is going ON?!"

At least I had been asking that question quite often since the start of 2020. 

You see, I've worked a majority of my life as an "employee" or as a "freelancer" - which is more or less an employee that is paid differently and has more to deal with when tax season comes around.

As I moved through this year of hustling up new freelance gigs, like I have been for the past two years, I found that the well was running dry. When COVID became a "thing", many freelance gigs disappeared. But I noticed the well drying up well before that. For myself anyway. I was perplexed by this because I had a stellar résumé for a content producer with many great references to back it all up. But I wasn't getting the gigs...

​(to see my reel of past work - go here)

I did dozens of interviews. They all went fantastic (in my mind anyway). So what was the problem? Why was I not getting the gig/job/chance to work for someone? 

I had my speculations...but the one thing that I saw to be true was that I WASN'T GETTING THE JOB. 

I was starting to feel overwhelmingly anxious more of the time. How would I make a living? How would I pay my bills? How could I feel a sense of "purpose" if I wasn't working for someone on some project?

As usual, my wife (and talented artist) Christina sat me down and we had a heart-to-heart. Long story short - she convinced me that it was time to brand myself and take the plunge as an official business owner.

​Bit of backstory - she was KILLING IT as a National Sales Executive for a successful pet manufacturing company. And then one day...she wandered in to a Joann Fabrics to buy materials and try painting. The rest is history. She has been running her own business now for 3 years and I have been her faithful side-kick (and husband). She said - "NO MORE - you deserve to live the life you were meant to live". You see, I had been creating furniture under her brand and she made me realize that I create a nice product and it's time to launch my brand and seize the opportunity to launch a new business. She's a smart cookie so I heeded her advice. 

The nest week, I was officially incorporating as MARSDEN DESIGNS and I'll be doing it with pending commissions in play. 

This feels good. Really good. I owe infinite gratitude to my wife for her inspiring efforts, her teachings, and her love. 

​Buckle up!

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