Meet Philip Willis | Artist and Custom/Creative picture framing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Philip Willis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Philip, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Beyond the Edge Custom Framing & Arts most important factor is full custom builds with original art incorporated into the design catered to the customers idea for what is being framed. As a visual artist and custom framer with over 20 years of experience my main objective is to build a relationship with the client, get a feel for the specifics of their connection to the piece/item they are wanting preserved and creatively build something to represent their vision for a display that reflects their personal bond with the subject. I draw the plans of their vision and give them “sky is the limit” options of what to incorporate for the piece

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Drawing and painting have always been with me, since my earliest memories of childhood. Pencil, pen, or brush in hand it slowed the world down for me. As a child I was always nervous and anxious and when I would create everything came into focus and my hands would steady. There was a connection with something I couldn’t quite grasp but it felt right and good. I pursued this path throughout high school, good, bad, or indifferent. I was told by my guidance counselor that I should focus on a different path in what I needed to do to get into a good college and put art aside because it was just such a hard path of life to succeed, I quit that high school with 2 weeks before graduation, went immediately to get my GED, then started taking some night classes at Jackson State Community College 2 nights a week. That is where I met Mrs Norma Dennison – she recognized my drive and saw my portfolio and made it her efforts to write a letter of recommendation to Watkins College or Art & Design. She was the first person who truly believed I needed an outlet to pursue what was already inside me- we took pictures of my work had them made into slides and I submitted my portfolio and got a scholarship to Watkins College Of Art & Design. I moved to Nashville from the cotton fields of West TN in 1997 and worked, to find my voice through painting/drawing. After 2 years I obtained an associates degree in fine art. I began to do little art shows, gatherings, did some mural jobs, album cover art, commission pieces and lived as a struggling, but working, young artist. I took a year to build up a good size portfolio of my work and sent slides, an artist statement, along with letters of recommendation from my teachers, and even the Dean at the time Mrs Madeline Reed, to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I moved to the big city in the year 2000 and off I went to soak up as much life in the spirit of art as possible. I lived a lifetime in the 4 years I went to SAIC. I was enveloped in “the life” and I truly soaked up everything that school and city had to offer. I obtained a BFA then got the opportunity to study at Ox-Bow in Saugatuck, MI post grad. All along these years of self discovery, finding my place in the world and a voice, I worked at various custom picture framing places learning as much about conservation, creative, preservation, and restoration framing as I possibly could. How I got to where I’m at today was through trial and error, through determination, not giving in, following my path- which had been everything, from big goals accomplished, to drug and alcohol addiction and dependency, to having and losing a business to rising from the ashes and rebuilding myself and my business.
The lesson I’ve learned is that life is life, I can only control what I put out in this world, my actions- If my vision is truth about myself and my work, and I give all that I am into it, never give up, overcome the adversities and struggles I’m faced with, keep an open mind, build healthy relationships and work my ass off, there is success, not just in my business, but also in my personal growth. The Art I produce is a study of the human condition as an artist. The name Beyond the Edge Custom Framing & Arts is the brand. I take custom framing beyond the edge of the standard “put a mat/glass/and frame around a picture” and hang it on the wall” aspect to a personalized and creative avenue catered to the customers specific voice of why the piece is important and what voice it should demand to be represented. I build custom displays for anything, music instruments are a speciality. Custom built displays that can be opened that house instruments that can be taken out, with photos, records, and even original paintings/designs I create to compliment the piece and also the customers has the option to have them illuminated with digital or voice controlled lighting. Complete custom builds.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If they had never been to Nashville I would take them to the East side, show them around all the foodie, and specialty shops maybe grab some Hot Chicken, head to 8th S to Carter Vintage, and HatWrx, over to Gruhn, weave them around downtown showing them where I stayed at metro manor across from the municipal auditorium, quick trip down broadway, 2nd, and the touristy stuff, specifically during the day,.. maybe out to the Parthenon, drop in to the Springwater, hopefully catch a GOOD show at exit/in, maybe catch a Sounds game, tell them how much Nashville has grown since the mid 90’s then head out of the city to the county side, specifically out south to the hills and show them all the old barns and hills out around the College Grove/Bethesda area

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Mrs Norma Dennison for recognizing the drive and creativity in me at such a young and fragile age, for seeing a light and nurturing that light to set me into some direction in my troubled and uncertain youth. A shout out to a fellow artist and mentor, Bill Byrd for giving me a multitude of inspiration through music, literature, and his own gallery of paintings to study.
Graves Gold Leaf Gallery- for being my introduction in custom picture framing, art, frame restoration, and client/creator relations through specialty services at the age of 17
My wife, Casey for believing in me and guiding me into taking my experience and craft to the level that exists today

Website: www.philipwillis.com

Instagram: beyondtheedgeframing or philipzwillis

Facebook: Beyond the Edge-Custom Framing and Art Design

Yelp: Beyond the Edge-Custom Framing and Art Design

Image Credits
Casey Willis