Hello all,
My name is Barry and I'm from Iowa, where I first started painting while in my 20's, and then moved to South Dakota, where I am still doing it part-time alongside my job as a software/website developer.
Stats: Graco & Titan; SW & ICI/Glidden (primaries) + BM; Spray, Brush & Roll; Res. ext. primarily + res. int. + decks/fences + occasional smaller comm/retail/apt complex jobs.
I first got started in the painting business 11 years ago working for my best friend, who had started his business "under the wing" of his father, who was a succcessful painting contractor for 40+ years (R.I.P. Bob). If I had the opportunity to do a real apprenticeship, I just might have, but those things don't ever seem to be advertised, available or well known in places that I have lived, so I've done my absolute best to learn as much as possible from those two guys, and I still feel like a noob every so often (make that every day!). I really love painting, the satisfaction from a job well done, "that new smell", the way a piece of furniture looks magnificent 2 hours after you put down the HVLP (who cares if it was paint-grade!), etc. Painting/staining/varnishing is relaxing to me, which is part of the reason I do it still. I derive huge enjoyment out of the look of a finished job.
I think this forum is excellent and I have enjoyed immensely the information I have gleaned from the threads. There are some incredibly knowledgeable and experienced people on this forum -- for their participation here I am immensely thankful as I have learned and continue to learn so much. I feel privileged to be able to even read posts here, let alone post anything myself. This is like Painters' College -- for real. I have taken a break from painting for the last two years (very young kids) and am back at it again -- but struggling with understanding and implementing the new EPA/RRP stuff, which didn't exist to my knowledge when I started "the sabbatical".
Parting Thoughts: Painting (well) is so much more of an art+science combo than most homeowners realize. We have to be part chemist, monkey (on the ladders), artist, hard-nosed business-person, diplomat, bombproof b/s detector, and part "glutton for punishment". Only those who really enjoy the painting process and the "give and take" of business seem to overcome the many obstacles, look their jobs straight in the eye, conquer, and have positive outcomes in this business. "Throw your heart over the bar and the body will follow."