Emma Potter | Rowboat Wood

I’ve always had a creative wave flowing through me since I was a kid.  Growing up on a hundred acre farm in Ontario, Canada, I could easily disappear into  nature to play and create.  I would make secret forts in the trees and dig for fossils in the sand.  May favorite spot was by far was in the creek where I would dig my toes into the clay, catch minnows and float in my rowboat for hours on end.  While in my boat, I found solitude, peace and the inspiration for many of my creations.

As the years trickled by, I found my life drifting further from the creative and anchoring more around my family.  After some encouragement from friends and family I finally decided to dive back in.

Working with wood has made areas of my life feel complete and easy.  At times while in my workshop, I recapture the feeling of freedom as I did in my boat.

I am truly inspired when in nature and love the versatility and variety that wood offers me.  I enjoy how different each piece of wood can be from the next.  Experimenting with the combination of layered colored stains and raw , natural wood really allows each piece to tell its own story/sing its own song.

Song is also an inspiration for my work. I am constantly enjoying music while in my shop.  I name each piece after the musical artist I am listening to at the time of its creation.  I love connecting something impermanent and auditory like sound to something tangible and visual.