There's something very relaxing to me about being out in nature. Being out on the water or just walking amongst the trees seems to help me forget about my worries and calms my anxieties. I've noticed that getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at least occasionally to listen to the sounds, feel the textures, and smell the scents of nature seems to help me to re-focus on what life is really about. I recently saw a quote that said, "there is no wi-fi in the forest, but we promise you will find a better connection". For me this definitely rings true.
This month's OWSAA Feature Artist loves spending time outdoors and especially being in the woods. Walking amongst the trees, listening to the leaves crunch beneath his feet, and stopping to enjoy the sound of a creek rolling through a forest are some of his favorite pastimes. This love for nature has led this artist to combine his artistic talents with his desire to bring new life to those trees that mother nature has gifted to him. Our December Feature Artist is Todd Wells of Todd Wells Rustic Designs.
I first found Todd and his work on Facebook earlier this year. I was fascinated with his wood spirit carvings that seemed to put a face to the aged spirit of the log in which it was carved. Since that time, Todd has built up a thriving small business complete with a new logo that is branded into every piece he creates. The logo was created by Todd’s wife, Stephanie, who he credits for helping him with his marketing thus far. Looks like Stephanie might be a bit of an artist herself!
Who/what inspired you to begin your carving work? Did someone teach you how to do it? At what age did you become interested in it?
As a kid, I always wanted to be a cartoonist, so I’ve been drawing cartoons since I was about 12 years old. I’ve also always enjoyed wood working and building things. As an adult I’d take my family to spend time in different cabins in Tennessee and we’d always see wood carvings in our cabin, and I always thought how neat it would be to do that myself. One day I was at my fire pit during the Covid lockdown, and I saw this log laying there and said to myself "I’m going to do this". I had no training of any sort. I just have a desire to create, and the rest is history.
This desire to wood carve has turned into a booming and very successful side business for me. One day, I’d love to do this full time.
Do you have any previous experience in the art world? Work with other mediums of art?
I have no previous experience in the art world. As a kid I liked to draw and still do. Now I just draw/carve on wood. I’m totally self-taught.
Can you talk a little bit about the process of how you place such amazing carvings into the wood you are working with? How long on average does it take to complete a project?
I hunt down my own logs in the woods. That’s fun for me to find just the right piece. I like to see discarded logs and envision what I can do with them. Sometimes these logs sit in my shop for months before I do anything with them. Once I’m ready to create my piece, I will clean the bark off the desired spot and do a rough drawing of what I want right on the log. This always changes as I carve, and I just go with it.
A good carving usually takes me working on it a few hours each evening. It's hard to put a time frame on it because each piece requires something different.
Do you take requests from customers on what they might want carved? Do you have carvings that seem to sell the best?
I generally like to just carve what I am feeling that piece of wood should become and then post it for sale. I have taken some requests, but I enjoy it much more when it’s really something I want to create.
I carve a lot of cardinals and gnomes as those sell best and all year long. Wood spirits (generally faces of old wise looking bearded men) sell good too. I’ve carved many things and it just takes the right person to see it and they snatch it up. I ship all over the country.
Is there a specific type of wood that works best for your carvings?
I use mainly species we have right here in Oviedo, like pine, live oak, cypress stumps, and gumtree. Live oak makes beautiful carvings but is the most difficult to carve because the wood is so hard. I’ve also used other types that I have people send me from up north like white birch and cotton wood bark, which are two types I really love, but just can’t find them around here.
What are the tools that you use to perform your carvings?I use knives, gouges, chisels, Dremels, angle grinders and other power tools. A good chainsaw is a must. Really just depends on what I’m trying to accomplish.
How can people purchase your works? Do you have an Etsy account? Online store?
I started out posting on marketplace and I still do occasionally when I think about it. My main source is through my Facebook business page, Todd Wells Rustic Designs. That is where I post my latest work and offer it for sale. Please feel free to follow and like my page so you won’t miss out on what comes out next…usually every few days.
I sell through a lot of word of mouth as well. I did my first show last month at Great Day in the Country and it was a huge success. I already have my same booth and spot reserved for next year. I plan on doing more shows in 2023.
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