About the Artist
FINDING INSPIRATION IN EVERY TURN
Becky Watson
It would be an amazing thing to say that throughout my entire life I have pursued creating objects with wood, but the truth is, I started tinkering with the idea of making birdhouses during Covid in 2020. Like many of us, I was unable to work during the pandemic; I am a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner and because of the close proximity of working with others required with Healing Touch, I had to shut down my business. Realizing that doing puzzles everyday was not going to fulfill my day’s interests, I reached out to a friend who had scrap pieces of wood and started making birdhouses. I am proud to say that a few of those birdhouses remain intact on the side of the house, and are inhabited by birds! As I began to spend more time at my table in the garage, I began to experiment with different crafts: making boxes, carving shapes, wood burning, etc.
Suddenly one day, I wanted to make a bowl. All I had was a miter saw, and as one knows, miter saws are not designed to make a round object. I started making bowls with a scroll saw, which is very cool but not really efficient. As I began to research how to make bowls on the internet, the internet discovered me and I started receiving all kinds of information about wood and contacts of people who sold wood pieces, billets, and cutoffs. I decided that if I were to buy wood, I wanted to be sure my sources were providing pieces that were harvested from downed trees or trees that ‘had’ to be removed. During this time, I met someone who owned a vineyard in Oregon. She overheard I was making birdhouses and was curious if I would be interested in making charcuterie boards for her business. I took a chance, and I said 'yes!' and my interest in crafting charcuterie boards began. Through my growth as a woodworker, I have discovered so much about wood and honestly, about myself. Daily, I am reminded that I work with extremely dangerous equipment, first and foremost. Secondly, every piece of wood I work with has it's own story and is basically in charge of the outcome of what appears in the end. As a Healing Touch practitioner, you and the client set an intention for an outcome that opens opportunities for the client to grow and to heal. Sometimes, the intention does not look or feel as the vision one had, initially. The process of creating with wood is very similar as I begin a project: I decide what shape I am going to pursue, I choose the beautiful piece of wood and I set the intention for what outcome I am trying to reach. The process requires patience and very often, the ability to see a new opportunity in what may seem like a disaster: broken pieces, a chip, a hole, a crack, etc. I have witnessed changes in myself - becoming more patient and aware of opportunities over these recent years. Often, when searching for perfection, one finds the beauty is in the imperfections. The story is revealed.
My intention is to provide a piece of work that does not hide the imperfections, but actually highlights them.
I hope that you will witness the story in each piece and love them as much as I do.
- Becky Watson
art featured at
