Some have asked what is BarnCat Designs? A better question might be who is BarnCat Designs. Well it's a one man show run by me, Rod Mochoruk. I started BarnCat in 2008 to fulfill a life long passion of building and creating things, for lack of a better word. I've always enjoyed drawing, model making and making music. As a child I remember making cool forts out of the large boxes the fridge and stove came in as well as a beauty of a car out of the vacuum cleaner box. At 9 years old such details as an opening door with a handle and windows with saran wrap for glass was pretty ingenious, or so I thought. Lego and Maccano were also a big part of my childhood. I could be entertained for hours making cars, planes or musical instruments.
The natural progression for me was of course wood working. Now that I was a tad older I could use dads tools thinking I was a master carpenter. So with lots of trial and error and a few minor medical incidents I acquired adequate woodworking skills. Even though I found that I was not quite the master I originally thought I was, I was still hooked. Over the years I challenged myself with a bedroom set, an artists art display, many book shelves and a few hope chests.
Then one day in my mid 30s I was watching a show on metal art and sculpture and was fascinated. I had seen this type of work before but for some reason this time I was in total awe of the work the artist was doing. It was some sort of abstract thing but it was great. I want to do that! I said to myself. So eventually I bought a small 110v mig welder, got a few "how to" books on the subject and went to work. I now have BarnCat Designs as a part time business but hope to make it full time.
Rod has also over the years made a supplementary living playing and teaching drums. He started lessons when he was in grade 9 and within a short time was teaching, earning himself some spending money through high school.
Out of high school Rod went to The Professional Musician College in Regina where he enrolled as a full time student taking a year of guitar and a year of drum/percussion studies.
While never making drumming a professional career he has played and is still playing in bands and teaching. Some local bands include IdleRains, Ghost211 and most recently Tommy John Ehman. Tom has just released his fifth CD "Turn on the Radio" which Rod played on, check it out. www.tommyjohnehman.idlerains.com
