Today we’d like to introduce you to Clancy Ward.
Hi Clancy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Saltwood Furniture Company began officially in April 2017, but I have been building furniture and custom homes since 1992. Since my apprenticeship, I have always had the goal of having a furniture shop. Now that I am in it, it is ever-changing and evolving. Currently, I build custom pieces, repair old heirlooms, and the newest project, milling reclaimed pickle tank wood (from which the company name is derived) into paneling and flooring.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing is smooth in this line of work unless you have a pile of money to fund the process, which I feel is the most challenging aspect; there are plenty of furniture makers in this world, so how do you want to stand out? I feel I am figuring this out and always learning, but reclaimed wood has always been something I’ve enjoyed working with from the beginning, and we have a good relationship.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I usually take on the weird projects and make them more challenging by turning them into what I feel the material is asking for. I enjoy utilizing the scraps and discarded material because it points me in the direction I need to go, using it as a guideline for what needs to happen. There is a limit to what can be done with a piece of wood. It can’t be added to metal, paint, or ceramics. So the artist is forced to arrive at the destination within the limits of the material. Reclaimed wood brings this to a higher degree, but I enjoy making it all look new again. This is what sets me apart; the attention to detail within the confines of trash! I also try to incorporate joinery into everything. I have a timber frame background, so it is satisfying to assemble pieces using these methods whenever possible.
What were you like growing up?
I have always built things with wood scraps.
Contact Info:
- Website: saltwoodfurniture.com
- Instagram: @saltwoodfurniture
Image Credits
All photos by Clancy Ward
