Wood, solitude and time create beautiful art in Davidson County man’s hands | Features

Midway — Look within Dale Davis’ Davidson County workshop on any supplied working day and it appears to be like like he is in there by himself shaping wooden into pieces of artwork as the miter and round saws grind and buzz.

But if you sit down to talk to him about his craft and his time invested in the small workshop driving his residence in Halfway, he’ll inform you he is not in there on your own. God is there with him, the same God that pulled him out of his habit to opiates and has stored him thoroughly clean for 15 years.

A 1996 graduate of North Davidson Large, he has a track record in graphic arts and owned a few of companies, including Watermarkd, a indicator corporation in Arcadia. A knee damage was the beginning of his dependancy to opiates and painkiller.

“I acquired to the point where by no one particular could support me but God,” he explained. “A person working day, I last but not least said, ‘I’m yours whether I dwell or die.’ That was 15 a long time back.”

He has retained his eyes and heart with God considering the fact that, listening to His programs and direction, Davis stated. He also prospects a Rejoice Restoration group at his church, Pinedale Christian.

Though he credits the reward of a woodworking kit from his wife, Jill Koonts Davis,  with having him started out with woodworking, he reported he is familiar with it was God’s whispers to Jill that built her give him the present and nonetheless evokes him everyday to develop artwork. 

“God is range a person in my everyday living,” he said. “That is my major occupation, … building disciples and spreading the term. I like the solitude of the workshop. We generate so several points when we are in there.”

When requested about his use of “we,” he claimed, “You know, I say we a great deal,” with a smile spreading throughout his deal with.

“We is God and me. I adore the solitude of functioning in my shop, but I am not in there on your own. Solitude and becoming by yourself are two diverse issues. I function with Jesus,” he claimed.

When his previous work commenced phasing out, he took a leap of faith in Oct 2022, opening Odd Knot Woodworks, marketing his creations at Missions Pottery and Far more in Lexington and from his small business Fb webpage. 

Davis was wanting for a spot to sell his get the job done and desired an idea for one thing abnormal he could offer. It was just just before Christmas, so his spouse prompt a star. Davis had no strategy how to make one, with all the cuts and points it would acquire.

He joked that the to start with just one he created seemed like a sand spur. Each and every attempt enhanced right until the closing product or service seemed like a star. He failed to signify to make it glimpse like a Moravian star, on the other hand.

“It is seriously just a star,” he reported. “People today started out contacting it a Moravian star. “It truly is the light of Jesus in our planet. Any time I make one thing, I have to figure it our, but not on paper. I do it in my head. I’m not a math person figuring out angles on paper. I’m an artist.”

He known as a number of studios and merchants to see if they have been intrigued in marketing his creations. Joyce and Tommy Davis, no relation, house owners of Missions Pottery, had been the 1st to get to out to him.

“Joyce identified as and mentioned to bring my things to the retailer,” he said. “I’m so grateful.”

The 7-inch and 12-inch wide stars flew off the shelf. It was difficult to continue to keep up with the need.

Davis also makes jewelry and souvenir bins, slicing boards and decorative art these kinds of as sunflowers. In addition, he uses chainsaws to make property and yard decor these kinds of as gnomes and owls. 

“A great deal of time, I will be out there in the shop and I you should not know what to make,” he claimed. “I pray about it. I just know that this is where by God desires me suitable now. I do this to continue to be near to God. It makes it possible for me to build. I am earning a little something that brings joy to somebody else.”