Ferdinand artist sets up shop on Main Street

Behind the doors of the former Hagedorn’s Service Center on Main Street in Ferdinand, lives diehard Phish fan John Schipp, owner of Harpuahound Studio, who’s ready to bring his engraving talents to a dedicated storefront. 

The 40-year old high-spirited father knew since childhood that art was the career path he wanted to pursue. Raised in Ferdinand, Schipp recalls a chance meeting with his father’s friend, retired Vincennes University fine arts professor Bernard Hagedorn, that got Schipp’s creative juices flowing.

“I was like ‘This guy’s a sculptor, that’s so cool!’” said Schipp. “‘That’s what I want to do.’”

From there, Schipp began to paint his life-long canvas.

In high school, Schipp continued to draw and found great pride in art classes, he balanced jobs as a waiter and his first paid art gig at Olinger’s Diamond Center as a novice jeweler. After graduation, Schipp took it upon himself to continue his own ‘personal art class’ an hour a day before going to work.

While Schipp knew that diamonds were not his best friend nor passion, he moved onto another art medium once introduced to his longest partner in the business: the GraverMax – an engraving system that allowed Schipp to combine his talents onto something other than jewelry and paper. He could sculpt in metal bringing his two-dimensional ideas to life on a new medium.

Using his growing talents with sculpting he grew a following creating hobo nickels — an artform involving creating bas reliefs on old coins. He was also selling the unique pieces he created.

“Still to this day, it’s the one machine I base my business around,” Schipp said.

And business has been booming.

Since Schipp’s dive into ‘pocket jewelry’ with his collection of hobo nickels and a line he named Grandma Schipp’s Family Photo Album, the popularity and success with collectors have made it possible for Schipp to become his own boss.

“I got collectors that have been following my work for 10 to 15 years,” Schipp said. “I’ve been doing it long enough. I got people behind me. I think it’s time.”

Time is certainly on Schipp’s side.

Despite worldwide concerns for all businesses due to the pandemic, Schipp found mainstream support with his new focus: the ‘Chill Pill’ – blank pill-shaped pieces made of copper or brass that he fashions into engraved non-edible medicine capsules. Think worry stones but much cooler.

Schipp believes that the uncertainty of the epidemic caused the Chill Pill to hit home with many, with Harpuahound Studio’s Facebook attracting thousands of new members and exceeding 11,000 followers on Instagram. All without paying for advertising.

“It touches a primal need right now,” Schipp said. “People have to be able to express their emotions. It’s instantly recognizable and touches a nerve.”

With the influx of new fans, Schipp moved into a focused space on Main Street where he has better clarity of work-life balance; though he recently purchased the lot behind his home to build Harpuahound’s permanent hub. 
Though ambitious, Schipp’s history of meeting his goals has been nothing short of propitious.

“My goal was by 30, I wanted to be making half of my income off of my art, which I did those last few months,” Schipp said. “When I turned 30, I decided that by the time I was 40 that I wanted to be self-sufficient. I hit that at 37.”

While still planning out goals for the next 10 years, Schipp’s fervor for his art will keep him going.

“I love what I do,” said Schipp. “There’s nothing more than that.”