Welcome to another edition of TotalBoat's Ambassador Spotlight! In these articles we shine a spotlight on talented artisans and craftsmen who are doing amazing things in the maker community and harness the power of TotalBoat products to bring their creative visions to life.
This month, we're excited to feature Paul from Copper Pig Woodworking. Paul’s work blends artistry and functionality, resulting in beautifully crafted pieces like sushi boards, tea boxes, and serving trays. His body of work is an example of dedication to quality and his goal of creating heirlooms that bring joy and meaning to everyday life.
Read on to learn more about Paul’s inspiring journey and his how Copper Pig Woodworking came to be what it is today.
Photo: Justin Mabie
Can you tell us more about how you got started in woodworking and the influence your neighbor Hal had on your journey?
When I bought my house, I had the fortunate opportunity to meet a woodworker, who happened to be my 80 year old neighbor Hal. Hal Saw the excitement in my eyes for the possibility of making something in his shop after I saw it in his basement. Almost as if it was out of a movie, Hal took me under his wing as an informal Apprentice and began to teach me what all of the machines did and how to do woodworking in a general sense. It was this chance encounter with a generous person that started my two decade love of woodworking.
How did your education at The Furniture Institute of Massachusetts and The North Bennett Street School influence your approach to woodworking?
During my time at the North Bennett Street School (in the continuing education classes at night), these world-class teachers showed me what was possible with hand tools and where the bar REALLY was for fine furniture. This was made even more clear through my time getting to know and working with Freddy Roman and Phil Lowe at the furniture Institute of Massachusetts. Given that I lived in the Boston area it seemed foolish to not be taking classes and learning from these two world-class institutions. After taking classes, it became clear to me where the bar was really set and what Fine Furniture was all about and I've never been the same since. I recommend everyone to take a class at a furniture school if possible!
What inspired your shift toward creating unique art and design pieces, such as sushi boards, tea boxes, and watch boxes?
One day, my wife and I happened to go to the Boston Museum of Fine Art, and there happened to be an exhibition by the contemporary artist Takashi Murakami. I walked in and my mind was blown, I had never seen such creative thinking before by an artist. He had taken art that was several hundred years old and reimagined it in a new and creative way which practically defies description. From that moment on I was permanently changed. I no longer wanted to copy the furniture designs of the past but rather I wanted to reimagine them in new and interesting ways that showcase my own design ideas and curiosity. That is when I began Copper Pig Woodworking, with an intentional focus on design. I knew that finding my own design voice would require many iterations so I began making smalls such as tea boxes, sushi boards, and watch boxes as little canvases to try out different design ideas.
Can you walk us through your creative process when designing a custom piece of home decor?
It begins with a design conversation with the customer. I enjoy including the customer in the design process because they contribute excellent ideas and it gives both of us a sense of excitement and collaboration. I try to understand the overall function, look, and feel of the piece based on what the recipient enjoys. If they need guidance I suggest different colors or tones of wood, and various design ideas that I have been thinking about myself. I also typically suggest some sort of personalization as well as the inclusion of other materials such as leather and metals such as brass and copper. We also have an open discussion about budget and hitting a price point that they are comfortable with but also allows them to have the type of heirloom quality piece they're looking for.
What is it about working with wood that continues to captivate and inspire you, even after nearly two decades in the craft?
Art has no beginning and no ending. It is a lifelong Pursuit to express emotion and feeling through inanimate objects such as those made of wood. Add to this the complexity of using a variety of materials, the different opinions of customers, as well as decades of accumulated exciting design ideas, and I feel as though I could never run out of ideas to try in the Woodshop. If you're doing woodworking because you enjoy the technical side, I think there may be an eventual limit reached when your pieces are nearly perfect in every regard, however if art and the conveyance of emotion is the goal, I don't know that there's ever an end point to that.
How do you envision the legacy of your work, especially knowing that many of your pieces become cherished family heirlooms?
It's hard to know if legacy matters because I won't be around to see it, however pieces become treasured by their owners and in their families, and from that point of view, I want to build everything I make with longevity in mind. Correctly built woodworking objects should easily last Three to four centuries being well cared for, and with some minor conservation. This is why I tend to use hide glue as well as shellac, both of which are easily restored in the future.
As someone who has refined their craft through years of learning and experience, what advice would you give to someone just starting out in woodworking?
I think it is easy to get dizzy by the array of options and advice that you find on the internet as a new woodworker. If I could give two pieces of advice to someone getting started in the craft, I would suggest: 1) Don't worry about all the tools and preparing too much, pick a project and just start with that. The tools you need for that project will reveal themselves quickly, and 2) Be patient with yourself and learn to have a love of the PROCESS and prioritize the process rather than the destination (being finished with a piece). It is this love of the process that is going to pull you back into the shop time and time again.
To stay up to date on Paul's latest creations and projects, make sure to follow him on Instagram!
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