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     I have always enjoyed working with wood–creating, carving, shaping, building, etc.  Several years ago, one of our art shows included a superbly accomplished pyrographer (drawing with fire or woodburning)–a craft I had not tried since I was a young boy.  His work was exceptional and sparked in me an entirely new avenue of possibilities.  Needless to say, techniques, equipment and results are vastly different from my childhood attempts.

It’s a refreshing addition to my matting and framing business.  I am having a great tme designing, burning and seeing folks’ appreciation of my work.  I am also interested to see where pyrography will lead me in my journey with wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our gallery at Hallelujah House Arts and Framing is always open by appointment, Monday through Saturday.  Give us a call at 804-725-7266, or email us at hankaudrey.wright@yahoo.com. 

Wade Brooks, a native of Mathews County, Virginia, is an artist and craftsman in every sense. Primarily self-taught, Wade is master woodworker with over 40 years experience in designing and building furniture, a Master blacksmith, an accomplished wood carver ,an electrical engineer, and a glass artist. Ever-continuing to learn and enhance his skills, he has provided fine and functional art for over 30 years with his work reflecting a broad range of styles, themes, and techniques.
Wade graduated from Mathews High School and VCU with an AS degree. He worked as a engineer with VEPCO for a time before starting his own business. From 1972 to 1982 he worked for the State of Virginia as a VMRC officer while building his business.
After Wade produced art works for other artists to sell in catalogs for many years, he now only does his own works and teaches classes. Wade works with the Bay School Cultural Arts Center in Mathews, Virginia. He teaches Blacksmithing, Welding, Glass Blowing, Lampwork Bead making, Stained Glass, Carved and Etched Glass, and Slumped and Fused Glass.
Wade Brooks has found that it is informative and profitable to be a part of local and national associations. He belongs to: Artistic Blacksmith Association of North America, Blacksmith Guild of Virginia, Art Glass Association, International Society of Glass Beadmakers, and Mathews Art Group.
Today, Wade is President and co owner with his wife Susan, of Garden Creek Woodworks Inc. and Artistic Design Studio in Mathews, Virginia. Wade is also a published author with articles in magazines such as Glass Craftsman.
At his studio in Mathews Virginia, Wade creates metal furniture and many other metal art pieces, blown glass, stained glass, and sculptures for clients and galleries through the United States. Wade uses metal, glass, pottery, stone, and wood in creating his functional and or decorative art. Working with fire, whether at the forge with metal or in the glory hole with molten glass, Wade likes to form and shape both into functional and decorative art. Drawing inspiration from the flowing lines in nature, Wade’s furniture, metal pieces, blown glass, stained glass and sculptures are pleasing to the eye and complimentary to any home or office.

Susan studied accounting and business management. These skills were sharpened as she worked along side of her husband, Wade Brooks, for the past 37 years. Then she became interested in glass both hot or cold. Susan took a class directly from the master artist, Jayne Persico, who originated the kiln formed bracelet technique. This opened Susan up to a whole new world!

Next, she was off to Florida and took a stain glass class from “the stain glass lady “herself, Vicki Payne. These classes gave Susan the confidence that she could reach inside herself and bring something beautiful that could be shared with others.

Susan’s Exhibitions & Awards

In 2008 Susan entered her stain glass piece “In The Wind” at the Bay School in Mathews, Va and won 3^rd place in the Middled Peninsula Professional Craft Division.

Larry Ashe
“I am inspired by the water, the boats and the peacefulness.”

Best known for his boats; work boats, fishing boats, docks and sailing vessels ~ the flavor of the Chesapeake rings true in Larry Ashe’s paintings.

An old sea captain’s house on the Piankatank River is home and studio for Larry. The water inspires Larry to paint bouyboats, heron and traditionally constructed boathouses on the Bay.

Many of his paintings have his trademark black background; night views of familiar vessels resting in peace.