[title subtitle=”WORDS Liesel Schmidt
IMAGES courtesy Aaron Price”][/title]
Over the past twenty years, we’ve become increasingly reliant on technology. We can’t seem to function without our cell phones, tablets, and computers, depending on them for everything from simple communication to more crucial things that greatly impact the way the world works. It’s a complicated balance, and when one thing breaks down, it can have enormous consequences. It was while facing some of those consequences after his laptop was stolen from his car one night in 2017 that brought software developer Aaron Price to the realization that he wanted to get back to basics and create something more tangible. “I lost five years of software development on that laptop,” says Price, recalling the incident that inspired him to make a drastic life change. “I should have backed it up, but I didn’t.”
Not backing it up, while no doubt seemed catastrophic at the time, was actually an Aha! moment for Aaron, making him see that he could do something with his life that had absolutely nothing to do with computers. Having spent decades in technology—first, building laser engraving machines, then as the co-founder of a successful cell phone repair company in addition to developing software—his fate seemed inexorably written in code. But when the wakeup call came, Aaron realized that he could go offline and use his talents on something decidedly more old school.
A self-starter who has a strong entrepreneurial side, Aaron taught himself woodworking, utilizing as many resources as he could find to learn the best practices and refine his techniques. “I’ve taken a few online courses and watched many, many YouTube videos,” Aaron says with a smile, no doubt aware of the irony of using technology to teach him something so low-tech. “Whether it’s software development, technology repair, or woodworking, I love unraveling processes and figuring out how things work. For instance, there is a very old technique from Japan called kumiko, which was traditionally used for shoji panels—room dividers and doors. This process has been exceptionally fun to dissect. It’s a lattice structure in which each piece interlocks with the other; and after the base grid is finished, each infill piece is hand carved to the correct angle to fit snugly in place.”
Clearly, the intricacies of woodworking fascinate rather than overwhelm him, and his captivation has turned into a passionate dedication to create beautiful things that will last. Now, his favorite tool has nothing to do with wireless transmissions of data and has no operating system. It doesn’t need to be updated, synced or backed up. It simply needs the direction and guidance of his hands and a quality piece of wood. “I have a beautiful antique Stanley #45 plane with a floral design produced from 1897 to 1904. I found it at Belle Starr Antiques, my favorite little antique mall in downtown Fort Smith,” Aaron notes. Plane in hand, Aaron is ready to make the things he’s becoming known for locally: home accent pieces including cutting, serving, and charcuterie boards; keepsake and gift boxes; plant stands; and lighting and art pieces. He’s also in the process of designing a few furniture pieces and working on converting some antique radios into Bluetooth stereos.
Like any truly devoted woodworker, Price knows which types of wood are best for his projects and offer the most beautiful end result. “I love using walnut for its dark chocolate color and beautiful grain patterns. Maple is a stark contrast, with a very light color and buttery texture; and the natural color of purpleheart is just fun!” Those different woods give his pieces the characteristics of strength, quality, and beauty that his customers love; and since starting Craftsman James Woodworking, he’s made those standards his hallmark.
Named for the forename that has been passed down through generations of his family and is Aaron’s middle name, Craftsman James is quickly becoming a local favorite for those who love high quality pieces made of handcrafted wood. “So much of our options these days are mass produced, chemically treated, wood-derivative products that are neither sustainable nor environmentally friendly,” Aaron says. “Natural wood is a temperamental material and doesn’t work well with automation. Temperature, moisture content, grain patterns, and knots are all variables that don’t easily fit with mass-production. It’s my goal to create products that people will love and care for while doing so in a sustainable way. I’m also a big believer in supporting our local economy, so I try to source hardwoods grown, cut, and milled locally. When I make my pieces, I use techniques that, with proper care, will last for generations. Each one is handcrafted and takes a lot of time and attention.”
All of that time and attention shows in the finished product, and his boards are quickly becoming a hot commodity due in part to his partnership with Amazing Graze, where customers can buy his wooden boards and have them filled with premium charcuterie assortments. Aaron also has a booth at his wife’s store, Belle Starr Antiques, where the full range of his talents is on display.
Naturally, sawdust and wood shavings are a regular part of his daily life, their fine particles and small bits coating the surfaces of his workshop as a testimony to his hard work. Each pass of his plane, each cut of his saw, each thump of his mallet is a note in the soundtrack of his new life—one far away from the confines of a computer. He’s back to basics, working with his hands and getting calluses that speak to his days spent communing with the grain of the wood. And while he may spend most of his time working on his next piece, he’s careful to maintain a healthy balance and enjoy a life away from his work.
As one might expect from his willingness to get his hands dirty, Aaron is a lover of all things nature and has been since childhood. “My twin brother and I are the youngest of four rambunctious boys. We all have a love for the great outdoors, which is one hundred percent inspired by my father, who’s always had a thirst for life and adventure. My mother gifted me with her enterprising spirit and taught us never to be afraid to try new things.” Reflective of that, he is an avid hiker, fisherman, camper, swimmer, and scuba diver. “I’ve been diving for a few years and have been working with Ocean Impact Dive Shop in Fort Smith to get my Dive Master certification. Joining the Ocean Impact staff has provided me with ample opportunities to share my passion for scuba diving with new divers.”
Regardless of whether he’s at work or at play, Aaron shows a clear passion for the things he pursues. That passionate nature is what makes his pieces so special; and whatever he puts his hands to, he works hard to create something that he can be proud of—something that will last. Unlike the software he once developed, he’s making things no virus can hack and no glitch can destroy. He’s making pieces to treasure and pass down, and no technology can make that obsolete.
Find Craftsman James on Instagram, Facebook or online at craftsmanjames.com.
