Philosophy on Craftmanship

My favorite pair of boots are made in Spokane Washington by a company called White’s. When you first put them on they are wildly uncomfortable, because they are only vaguely meant to fit you. It would be more accurate to say they allow you to shove your foot in, then the boot is shaped by your foot as much as your foot is shaped by the boot. After some time and pain you are gifted with a boot that fits you like nothing ever has before; comfortable, great looking, can be rebuilt if needed and will last your lifetime.

I think this works as an analogy for my philosophy on woodwork, and craftsmanship in general. To make something that will last isn’t easy and it isn’t fast. To make something perfect for someone, a certain degree of influence must be imparted both on the object and the person.

There is a quality to something made by hand. To know human hands pulled it from their mind’s eye into reality, thought about its creation in bed at night, and existed with this object for a part of their life, imbues an object with something I can not define, that does not exist in something mass manufactured.

I try to fill my surroundings with items like this, from my cherished tools, to the artwork on my walls. It is my pleasure to create something that carries this spirit into the homes of people who appreciate the same.

Philosophy on Design

I draw inspiration from various sources, often depending on what style I am currently trying to work in. I sometimes look to historic references, it may be a 16th century scroll on woodwork, visiting museums, or scrolling through photographs of artifacts. I also enjoy designing pieces that have a strong mechanical/machinery influence. I will sometimes see a machine or part of a machine that has such interesting lines and shapes that it gets into my head. The design for the shop stool I made for myself was influenced by a bearing puller. I work most often in the Japanese method of woodworking, the tools and techniques captivated me years ago, which lead me to study Edo and Meiji era furniture. This has been a strong influence on my designs. As all people who create things, I also experiment with new and sometimes unusual designs, most of them never see the light of day but occasionally something will really stick and become part of my repertoire.

Who I Am

Born on Long Island, New York, I moved to The Bay Area in 2004 and have lived mostly in Palo Alto and the Santa Cruz mountains. I spent 3 years in rural southeast Ohio before moving back to the Santa Cruz mountains in 2023. Dragging a workshop worth of tools, wood and a sawmill across the country twice isn’t something I would recommend.

My father was my first introduction to woodwork and remains a lasting influence in my work.

When not working I enjoy backpacking, cooking and quiet nights in with my wonderful wife.