John Smallman

Growing up in the Northwest with a family of DIYers, I have always enjoyed the art of making - planning projects, putting things together and fixing things. As a young kid, I spent most of my time in my dad's workshop making go-carts, skateboards, or fixing my bike. Later, I parlayed this passion into illustration, painting, sculpture - also becoming a bike and ski mechanic and a graphic designer. Today I create furniture and other functional pieces in my own workshop.

In the 90s, I earned a BA in Fine Arts and Graphic Design from Western Washington University and worked in that industry for 20 years designing for local brands including REI, Microsoft and Starbucks. As a designer, I always found myself inspired by simple solutions utilizing positive and negative space, clean lines, and a simple palette, and you can see these same principles displayed in my work today. My pieces begin in sketch form, leveraging this background and knowledge of design and space. My favorite part of the process happens next - when I combine contrasting materials like wood, concrete and steel - and start to see the palette and textures that are created between the various warm colors and tones of wood and grays and blacks of steel. I like to use unconventional or reclaimed materials when I can - giving these materials a new life. There is a dark line - a negative space that is created between joining materials that, to me, is an essential part of my design.

I feel incredibly lucky to do what I do - especially amongst such other artists, makers, and creatives in this Equinox Studios community.