Business Spotlight: Doreywood Custom Carved Decor

Introduction

Bryan Reid is the creative force behind his artisan business Doreywood Custom Carved Décor. He has been painting for 50 years and carving for 30 years. He combines his two passions with his unique art pieces. He is continually creating at his studio with his wife in Chester Basin.

Q1. What is the process of creating one of your wood art pieces?

I draw and create a template using my press and transfer that pattern to pieces of pine. I hand-carve the pattern that I created, going over the etched lines. Depending on how the knife takes the grain and the staining, each piece ends up being unique. My wife, Kath, does the initial black lines. I stain the rest. Kath does a second application to the black lines to sharpen it up. Then the piece gets rope placed around the edges. The staining is a three-step process, the carving is two-steps, and the finishing with the rope and hardware completes the piece at six steps.

Q2. What did you do before starting your artisan business?

I taught for almost 30 years between British Columbia and Nova Scotia.

Q3. What drew you to carve?

On reserve experience during my first teaching position in Northern BC. I spent 10 years teaching there and there were totem poles on site. I invited a master carver in and that planted the seed. I learned the Haida-style of carving from a Haida artist.

Q4. When did you move here?

26 years ago.

Q5. What are some of your favorite things about living in our Municipality?

The history, culture, people, nature, music, and art community.

Q6. What is some of your inspiration for your carvings?

Nature and other artists. I study art a lot. I enjoy reading artist bios for motivation and learning new processes. I’m inspired by Emily Carr, The Group of Seven, and Vincent van Gogh.

Q7. When did you start selling your work?

I started with a storefront/gallery while still living in BC. Unfortunately, that did not work out. I went back to teaching when we moved to NS. When I retired from teaching, I went back to my business. I tried two co-op storefronts in Chester on Pleasant St and Duke St. Those closed, but then I found the farmers’ market scene. I tried at the Keith’s Brewery Market 25 years ago.

Q8. Where can people connect with you now?

I sell my pieces at the Hubbards Farmers’ Market and Craft Nova Scotia’s November Designer Craft Show. You can also find me on Facebook and Instagram.

Q9. Where is your favorite place to sell?

The Hubbards Farmers’ Market. It is a great place to connect with people. There are new people each week. It brings people to the artist.

Q10. Share one of your biggest challenges as an artisan entrepreneur?

Getting my work in front of people. My storefronts/galleries had no foot traffic. Driving traffic to the work is a big challenge. The markets helped fix that.

Q11. Share one big success?

My carving has been well received. I am currently as busy as I want to.

Q12. Do you have advice for artisans going into business?

Do what you love. Don’t expect to get rich. As long as you are scratching your creative itch that is what is all about. Find good people to help you.