Gum Artist

To me Bubblicious stays the freshest -- it's got the really nice bright colors, it's easy to spread and it doesn't stick too much. Great bubbles. . . . But Bubblicious only gets you about halfway. You need lighter colors, pastels, harder gums that you can make into objects, and for that I use Fruit Stripe. And then the final element is a good white gum. Most of the whites that you chew don't stay white. But Carefree Peppermint, that's a primo white gum. It's the white of choice.

How about Big League Chew, ever use that?

For one painting, I chewed so much grape bubble gum, including pouches and pouches of Big League Chew. It went on for about six months. That was 15 years ago and to this day, I have a hard time chewing grape gum.

How did Chew by Numbers come about?

I've always had the idea for Chew by Numbers. So last year I forced myself to create the Web site, develop the kits, get the provisional patent and follow through. Because I do believe there's a market. . . . Even parents who are sort of disgusted by the idea have bought their kids kits. And I'm seeing the parents come back. They've been buying them as gifts.

For some parents, this is just a nightmare product you've created.

Some parents think it's just going to end up in the carpet, smeared on the wall and that their kids are going to destroy the house with a couple of pieces of gum. I can understand the fear behind that, but meanwhile I have a 2-year-old who walks around chewing gum.

So your wife and the baby's grandparents don't have any problem with a 2-year-old chewing gum?

(Laughs.) That's a good question. I think at first every one was a little disturbed by the idea of me letting her have it. But when they see that she doesn't swallow it and she has so much fun, everyone got used to it and no other comments have been made.

But you're not recommending it? I'm trying to save you here.

I don't know. I was talking to a customer who is a speech therapist, and one of the things they're promoting for speech therapy for young kids is chewing gum because it creates muscle tone. It can help children continue to strengthen their mouth and their tongue. And so, I guess maybe I'm helping my child's development. There was just an article posted where they say that gum chewing stimulates your brain and increases your metabolism.

Sounds fishy to me. Where was that study posted?