About

Fading West Woodworks


I have had this ‘artsy’ side of me since I was just a boy. However, my wife and I started a family while we were very young. We had five kids by the time I was 24. While challenging, it was one of the greatest things to have ever happened to me. That said, I had to set aside a lot of things, including my love of art, to focus on the family.

I was very fortunate to become a police officer in my early 20’s, and it was a wonderful and fulfilling career. In the latter part of my career I hurt my knee and had some time off to recover. A fault of mine is that I have a hard time sitting still and doing nothing. Restless, I stepped into the garage and decided to clean some things up. The next thing I knew I had whipped my garage into tip-top shape (it’s rare, my wife will tell you). With a newly cleaned workbench I thought it might be time to start doing some art again. I started watching a bunch of woodworking videos and began making some cutting boards. Then my son joined me for a season and we made a bunch of cutting boards as gifts. I.Was.Hooked.

Having mastered cutting boards, I branched off to several other things: cornhole sets, barn doors, and other larger home-decor items. My problem was a lack of space in the garage. I simply had no room to make bigger projects any longer and had to narrow my focus to the smaller things. Somewhere online I saw a post about a guy making wooden flag art. I liked the idea and gave it a try. My first flags were made completely by hand, piece by piece. I ultimately acquired more equipment which sped things up a bit and allowed me more time to focus on some of my creative ideas. I began making some flags for police officers I worked with, and they were well received.

It is a new chapter in my life. I have now retired after 24 years of service on the police department. My phone is no longer ringing in the middle of the night. The anxiety and stress that come with the job are gone. And my kids are all grown and leading their own lives. So what now? I love Jesus. I love my wife. I love my family and grandkids. I love the outdoors and traveling. I love long walks on the beach, haha (but seriously). And I love art. So that’s what’s now…..these are the things I will be focusing on.

Mission

During my career in law enforcement, I saw the typical trophy-styled plaques handed out at promotions, retirements, and award ceremonies. While they were kind gifts, I could imagine a lot of them finding their way to a box in the attic. I want to offer an alternative choice. Something more unique and customized. Artwork that might stand the test of time.

This is only a hobby for me. What payment I take goes back into buying materials and equipment so I can continue making these gifts for first responders. This website serves as my art gallery. I will post pictures of my creations to journal my progress.

Comparison is the Thief of Joy