About
About the Artist
Jones Custom Woodshop is run by woodworker and artist Colin Jones. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania I have been crafting bespoke woodcraft for 15 years. What started as a hobby has become my life's work, and I am honored each time I am given the opportunity to work with a client towards creating their dream piece.
I started with a background in carpentry when I was 12 years old working on rental apartments with my grandfather and laying my first tile floor solo at age 13. The mentorship of my grandfather and father, who is an impressive carpenter and problem solver in his own right, gave me a basis in mechanical and structural aptitude that I will be forever grateful for. At the same time, I was developing a fondness for the arts. As a child and teenager I sketched, painted, and turned my old Legos into fresh creations, often with moving mechanical parts. Over time I gradually realized that my artistic calling was to merge these two backgrounds. Since 2010 I have been honing my craft of woodworking and enjoying the inexhaustible supply of new techniques and challenges presented to me by clients.
While I have created pieces of all styles, my personal taste leads me to two distinct yet related aesthetics: mid-century modern and contemporary pieces. I especially enjoy the utilization of traditional joinery to create highly modern designs. It is the geometry and the feeling of a piece that moves me. That being said, form must always follow function and over the years I have been lucky to have been asked to create some truly one of a kind pieces. From corner hutches with hidden compartments to frame and panel cabinets designed as a hidden snake terrarium I've enjoyed each challenge and look forward to working with you to create a one of a kind piece that will last for generations.
Humbly, Colin Jones
Nature as inspiration
Perhaps the most significant reason for my work in this medium is my reverence for nature. Each time I see a new piece of lumber, I am immediately reminded of the years of growth, drought, difficulty and connection that are a part of each tree's unique story. I am reminded of the fact that each beautifully figured, variegated, and distinct grain pattern is the result of a different stress in the tree's history. There is a reason that in woodworking, "character" is a synonym to "figure": That which is most beautiful in nature is often the result of difficulty, obstacles, and pain. I am reminded of the world's largest living organisms; the mycelial networks that connect and nourish the trees, which in turn create the oxygen which allow us to be.
It is for this reason that I utilize natural deadfall and FSC certified wood whenever possible. Trees are a beautiful gift to us that give so much more than we could ever repay. They deserve our respect and I am honored to work in such a versatile self sustaining medium.
Personalized Design
Collaborating with the customer is the driving force behind my work. Each person is unique. I believe that our world has become a bit too homogenized. I take great joy in bringing each clients unique aesthetic sensibilities to my projects. I design pieces to last a lifetime (several lifetimes really). As such, working with the customer to ensure that the resulting work represents their true vision from a functional and visual standpoint is the goal.
I present customers with value in knowing that each piece will be a one time purchase. Properly built and thoughtfully designed, it will be the last you ever need to acquire.
Whether it's a unique piece of decor, an art commission or a functional piece of furniture; I want it to come from you as much as it does from my hands.