Hello!  My name is Patrick McArthur.  I am the owner of NotBadMetals.  If you are wondering how I came up with the name, it was by my comments of “that’s not half bad for someone who has never done this before,” or other words to discredit the talent I was going to learn about.  My work was just “Not Bad.” 

We are all on a journey in this life. A journey to find why we are here, and how to be appreciated for the person you are.  

My journey has not been easy by any means.  I never felt like I was accepted for who I was.  I felt I was only appreciated because I worked hard, and/or I would provide rides or money to those who needed it.  For most of my life I felt used and tossed to the curb when I  was not needed anymore. 

With this cycle, I fought depression. This darkness surrounded me and in November 2018 it started to really surface. I was encouraged to find a hobby to get out of my own head and I started welding.  I made a few projects and the recipients liked them.  I started to do more creative things and gave them to different people.  I had no idea what this hobby would move into.  January 2019 was a breaking point for me. I was not in a good place and withdrew from everything and everyone I knew.  There was a day that everything came to a head; and I left.  I was not sure if I was coming back. My family received texts and they were about ready to contact the police to find me.  I was out of cell phone range, but it when I got back into range, it was a turning point.  I then started going to youth group with my wife and daughter because I did not want to be alone. It was there that I was blessed by the kids.  They accepted me for me and knew I was listening to them.  A short time after I started at youth, I rededicated my life to the Lord and things started to change.  I made my metal work for a ministry but had no idea how it was used to bless people.  (Follow my instagram page (notbadmetals) for more information about each project). I was amazed at how God was using my talents to make something that only He knew about the person. 

I started to use different means to display my work.  This included wood, rocks, tiles, and epoxy.  I also started working on 3-D projects that people gave me drawings or templates for.  I learned how to rust the metal along with bluing the metal.  I even changed up my metal from round stock to hex steel. Each project pushed me to learn something new and figure out what did or did not work. I have made my own forms and tools to help my art take shape. 

I was encouraged on this journey to sell my art; but, I was not ready to do that step.  Then, in December 2019 I had several prayers answered that provided some extra finances to start up my business in January 2020. I am now taking custom orders and selling projects that I have made.  I am excited to see where this journey takes me in the future and I thank God for showing me I had a talent I did not even know about. 

Thank you for reading about my journey.  Please know YOU are unique by design, YOU are important, and YOU have a purpose in this world.