Hi, welcome to Stains and Grains!

My official education and work experience for the past 12 years has been as a Botanist in a laboratory setting. I got into that field because I love the natural world, and find an amazing amount of beauty and perfection in its varied forms and colors. I am inspired by what I see around me, the simplest most natural things are what strike a chord in me. Layers of rock seen at 80mph from the highway as you pass, cold dew on your feet on a summer morning lawn, an eclipse. Our world is so beautiful if you take a second and notice it all.

One day around 7 years ago, some muscle memory of using a bandsaw in my grandfathers shop came back to me, and I got a little tickle of an idea about making something out of wood. My first pieces were using dowels, stained different colors and assembled in a frame. From there it just kept evolving to what you see in my shop today. In October of 2014, after two years in business as a hobby, I took the leap of a lifetime, quit my career science job and decided to do this full time. No more 401K, no employer health insurance for my wife and 2 year old daughter. We are flying free, trying to make this a viable life. So far it's been more successful than I could have ever imagined. Besides doing something that I love, and being my own boss, I get to be present for these amazing years of my daughters life. I see her change almost day to day, whatever comes of Stains and Grains in the future, my reward is right here right now. Pieces bought from me are facilitating this dream of a different life, of living fully in the moment and really being in touch with what I spend my energies on. I can never extend enough appreciation for people who choose to put my work on their walls, to make that vision of mine a part of your everyday space, thank you so much.

Now I need to do some shameless self promotion :)
I honestly believe my work to be the next evolution of wooden wall art. Originality and creativity are of utmost importance to me. Pieces bought from me are 100% original and non derivative. I strive for the HIGHEST level of customer satisfaction. If you are not happy with a piece for any reason I will make it right. I will gladly provide pictures of the piece before shipping a custom piece. You can even specify exact paint/stain colors you'd like in a custom piece, no problem. If you have a vision of how you'd like one of my pieces altered or customized in some way, we can make it happen, just ask.