Uncategorized
Spotlight: Jack Welty
Published
7 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersEngraving the path to success
By Sarah Gianelli EBS Associate Editor
Big Sky – If you have been out and about in Big Sky, it’s likely you’ve seen the imprint of Jack Welty. His one-man company Jack Creek Engraving is responsible for projects large and small throughout the community such as Beehive Basin Brewery’s rough-hewn tap handles, trail signage at Spanish Peaks and the menu boards at Moonlight Tavern as well as the club’s golf course signs.
Welty has also made high-profile custom trophies for a variety of Big Sky tournaments and events, including the etched antler awards for The Rut Mountain Runs, and custom-branded water bottles and travel mugs for local businesses like Big Sky Landscaping and Hussey Plumbing.
All this, and Welty only seriously began developing his custom engraving business in November 2016.
As illustrated by the eclectic spectrum of his work, Welty is firmly planted in the practical but can’t conceal the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit that has propelled his career path thus far.
“I guess it depends what you consider art,” Welty said when asked if he considers himself an artisan. “I haven’t had anyone come to me and say ‘build me a sculpture out of metal.’ But most of the time, clients don’t know what they want so I get to be creative in that way. I like learning new things and making things that are unique and not like anything else. So tell me, is that art?”
Welty’s creative expression and craftsman-level skills shine in a particularly sculptural piece he made for Big Sky Build owner John Seelye. The impressive interior sign features the company’s name and mountain-saw-blade logo in an artful, backlit composition of brushed and patinaed steel and reclaimed lumber.
Jack Creek Engraving was born out of a concurrently successful business Welty started in 2013 manufacturing athletic equipment. Mil-Spec Fitness Gear’s top-selling product is a military-grade jump rope. Assembled in Big Sky, they can be found on U.S. Army and Air Force bases all over the world. In 2015, frustrated by his inability to fulfill a lucrative order for customized purple jump ropes for the Baltimore Ravens, Welty broke down and invested in a laser engraver.
He soon realized he could engrave much more than jump ropes—and make a better return on his $17,000 investment in the machine. While the laser allowed him to do highly precise inscriptions on wood, glass and leather, he felt impeded by the inability to work on a larger scale with materials like steel. His next move was to purchase a plasma table, which allows him to cut through electrically conductive metals with an accelerated jet of hot plasma.
In his garage workshop at the Yellowstone Club property he caretakes, the brawny 40-year-old has recently completed hefty steel signage that will hang on the Gallatin Riverhouse Grill’s new outdoor bar area, and a prototype of a cornerstone inlay for Centre Sky Architecture that will be used as a “tattoo” of sorts for their houses.
Even during a previous career in law enforcement—Welty spent five years in uniform, followed by another five as a detective assigned to the gritty underbelly of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania—he owned and operated an archery business as a “side hobby.” Welty sold archery gear, provided bow maintenance and crafted handmade, custom arrows to satisfy a lifelong enjoyment of working with his hands that he traces to Boy Scouts and further cultivated during many years working alongside his uncle in construction.
His passion for police work is palpable as he reminisces about the days working informants, SWAT team raids, investigating homicides, and being involved in undercover operations that cracked open far-reaching human trafficking and credit card fraud rings.
Although family circumstances compelled Welty to leave his life fighting crime behind and relocate to Billings in 2013, he did so stoically, opting not to return to police work because it would not have been a lateral move.
“I don’t have a big ego,” Welty said. “But with the amount of experience I have [in law enforcement, coming in as an entry level cop] would’ve been really hard.” And likely not as exciting as what he was used to.
In 2015, Welty moved to Big Sky, where he had been visiting childhood friend and Gallatin Riverhouse Grill owner Kyle Wisniewski since 2008. While moonlighting as a security guard at Moonlight Basin, word got out about Welty’s skills and earned him a series of engraving commissions.
“I see opportunity,” said Welty, whose goal to construct all the large-scale custom signage for area builders and clubs is already coming into view. “There’s no one up here doing what I’m doing. And Big Sky’s a growing place.”
Visit jackcreekengraving.com to see more of Welty’s custom creations.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
You may like
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716