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Penny & Bill Wicker Folk Art: 1991 - 2001 American Wicker, BabyBassinet.com, Ressl Wicker Caskets, Wicker University In 1991 Bill and Penny formed Penny & Bill’s Artistic Reed, Ltd. and began weaving and selling a number of wicker items. A number of wicker lines were created: American Wicker with a line of practical objects and decorative accessories which included BabyBassinet.com, a line of handwoven baby bassinets; Ressl Wicker Caskets with a line of infant caskets; and, Wicker University providing educational classes and how to do it publications. All items were signed by either Bill or Penny who wove the item. Below is a sampling of the various wicker products. |
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Architectural House Art: Late 1980s - Early 1990s Following in the heritage of his Bohemian (as in Czech) tradition, Bill learned from his father as his father learn from his before how to remodel one’s home. During a several year period in the late 1980s to the early 1990s, Bill worked with his father (as well as his mother and wife Penny) to remodel the house. Much of the work was done by sweat equity while other parts were supervised to meet exacting design requirements. From laying wood floors, creating custom kitchen cabinets made of tiger maple, installing custom railings, to laying tile floors... a simple 1923 house that had been stripped of much of its original simplicity was returned to unique living space that maintained many original elements (original wood doors, molding designs, etc.). Below are several pictures. . |
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BillRESSL.us Bill Ressl … Box 504, Brookfield, Illinois USA … BillRessl@yahoo.com |
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The 1990s Gallery of Wicker, Illustrator, and Architectural House Art by Bill Ressl WickerArt: 1993 - 2001 Penny & Bill Wicker Folk Art: 1991 - 2001 Storybooks2Color: 1994 Architectural House Art: Late 1980s - Early 1990s In the 1990s Bill’s pursuits turned from printed objects to larger items as he learned to design and weave wicker. Learning from his second cousins, Bill learned the basics of designing and weaving wicker and together with his wife started Penny & Bill’s Artistic Reed Creations, Ltd. in 1991 turning out wicker folk art. In 1993 Bill added another line, WickerArt, which included one of a kind artistic wicker pieces. Additionally during this time Bill used the inside of his house as a canvas breathing new life into the space. Bill learned from his dad, as his dad did from the previous generation, a number of skills to transform wood and plaster into a new creation. This gallery provides a glimpse of these artistic endeavors. |
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Home … 1980s Offset Art … 1990s Wicker, Illustrator, Architectural House Art … 2000s Labyrinth Art, Webmaster, Digital Archivist … Bill Ressl Pastor … Bill Ressl LCSW … Online Gallery Exhibition |
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Other WickerArt Objects |
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The ebusiness of BillRessl.US © 2010 All Rights Reserved. Part of The Penny & Bill Company, Brookfield, Illinois USA Designed and maintained by the self-taught webmaster Bill Ressl. BillRessl@yahoo.com |
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Storybooks2Color Art: 1994 In 1994, in conjunction with a new line of wickerUweave kits which Bill designed, three Storybooks2Color were written and illustrated by Bill. These story/coloring books were printed in a limited quantity and were provided free to customers and potential customers. Click on the pictures below to explore each Storybook2Color. |
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WickerArt: 1993 - 2001 Having been trained as a master wicker weaver, Bill began with a simple sketch and then turned simple materials of wood, reed, and fibre into unique wicker pieces. From 1993 to 2001 Bill created a number of wicker objects that he defined as “WickerArt.” His first object was a bedstead created in 1993 followed by a very special pet bed for America’s first cat at the time, Socks Clinton. A number of objects followed. Bill ceased producing WickerArt in 2001 to focus on his graduate studies. Below is a sampling of the WickerArt objects he created. |
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Learning the Art of American Wicker Weaving: 1989 - 1993 Bill was fortunate to be born into a family of wicker weavers. His Great Uncle John was a card holding master wicker weaver from Europe who immigrated from Slovakia and started his own wicker weaving company in Chicago, Illinois in 1920. As technology changed and the hand weaving trade schools closed in the 1930s, Great Uncle John continued his business. Able to attract master wicker weavers his firm, Artistic Reed & Willow Manufacturing Company, was turning out 100 completely handwoven baby bassinets per day through the 1940s and 50s for Boston Stores, Marshall Fields, and a host of other companies nationwide. As Great Uncle John’s sons came of age each was invited into the business and learned all aspects of design and weaving. As the number of master weavers diminished the three sons continued the family tradition - each honing in on their specific skill to keep the business alive. Over a period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before the three sons retire, Bill and his wife Penny learned all aspects of designing and weaving wicker, cane, and rush. |
