Handcrafted America: Season 2
Season 2 Premieres Oct. 21st at 9:30p ET

Cutting Boards

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Paul Sr. & Jr. Gillam Blue Mountain Woodworkers

Timbo, AR  |  Cutting Boards  |  Website

A tree can be so many things; a shady refuge, a good book, a dinner table. They are diverse in type, color, grain, and each one is unique. For father and son team Paul Gillam Sr. and Paul Jr., the tree is their livelihood. Using wood from all over the world, they craft unique cutting boards. Each one is individually made, aesthetically pleasing, and most importantly, high-quality and functional.


GET TO KNOW PAUL

What drew you to your chosen craft?

In 1987 my father and I moved to Timbo, Arkansas and I began helping my father in his woodworking shop. He made fine furniture pieces. I spent a lot of time as a child with my father in the shop and was eager to learn and help him.

After graduating from high school in 1996, I attended a local college and was employed by the Corps of Engineers in Memphis, Tennessee for some time. In early 2000, my interest was again sparked in the wood shop. I wanted to learn everything I could about the craft, so I began working with my father.

Then, in 2009, I moved away from fine furniture & cabinets to make cutting boards and other functional art pieces at the request of my friends and family. I started attending local art and craft shows and was overwhelmed with praise.

Today, I am a member of the Arkansas Craft Guild and travel to many major cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City and more to sell my unique products at juried art shows. I love being an artist and am very lucky to be able to travel around the country with my family.

What do you enjoy most about your craft?

I love the feeling I get when I have completed a project with my own two hands. I love working with wood and I enjoy challenging myself.

Why is it important for people to make things with their own hands?

Making something with your own hands gives you great satisfaction. It gives people a sense of autonomy and self-worth. It makes me appreciate and embrace how things are made and the people who make them. I feel responsible for my work, so I strive to make the best product for my supporters.

In what ways are handmade goods better than those that are mass-produced?

The quality of each piece of handmade items is amazing. Because artists aren’t producing their products in a factory, they can spend a lot of time on details. I am my harshest critic because I want perfection. In my shop, I handle each piece 40-50 times at least. I am constantly looking for flaws and ways to improve.

Handmade goods are also better because they are unique. There is a special feeling you get when give or receive handmade items. You are supporting local artisans and not large, big-box stores. And there is a personal connection and a story with the item and the artist


Willow Furniture, Skis, Cutting Boards

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