Daily Inspiration: Meet Michelle Click

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Click .

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always had a passion for art you can put your hands on and feel. I moved to Colorado in 2007 to pursue a degree in Graphic Design from upstate NY and was immersed in a completely different world of art. I spent several years trying to hone in on what I wanted to do with my art and where I wanted to go with it.

I spent 12 years working in the food industry and customer service while I was doing freelance work and photography, and in early 2019 I decided I needed a change and really started focusing in on woodworking with a design aspect. My grandfather was a woodworker most of his life, and my dad spent every summer he could with him working and learning.

So, when I started, I had to lean on my dad to figure out how all the different tools worked, what to look for in different wood species, and how to piece everything together. I combined my Graphic Design knowledge with what he was teaching me and started creating some of my first pieces. I spent countless hours reading and watching videos on how a scroll saw works and found a secondhand one, which was what I spent the rest of 2019 learning. I went to my first Arts & Crafts show with a fellow maker to test what I could create.

In early 2020 I applied for every event I could in the area to start sharing my art, but soon after everything was shut down and all of those events shut down as well. It was time to pivot, and I focused a lot of energy on sharing on social media and having a heart-to-heart with myself on what I wanted to create. So I upgraded my scroll saw, learned more woodworking tools and started focusing on more nature inspired art and home decor.

Since then, I have had various opportunities for logo pieces, working with local businesses, custom-designed pieces for people’s homes and work spaces, and one-of-a-kind art that I offer at local markets. The best part of the last five years was trying new techniques and mediums, some more challenging than others; with each piece, I pushed myself more to try something new.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The journey to where I am today has definitely been bumpy, but there have been some smooth paths along the way. Juggling a full-time job, my business, taking care of my mental and physical health, and maintaining my relationships was something that took a long time to find a good balance.

There are still definitely days when it’s difficult, but I have to look back at the journey and remind myself that I made it this far and can keep going. At the end of the day, I started this business to provide more for my family, and they are what’s most important, no matter what happens.

I’m super thankful to have my husband by my side, he’s been the one to encourage me every step along the way. He’s my creative bounce board, extra set of hands, and my biggest supporter.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create artwork from wood and sometimes epoxy. Most everything is created on my scroll saw, but I added a CO2 laser last year. Most of what I’m known for is simple home decor pieces, but I have branched more into intarsia (they fit together like a puzzle) pieces, nature-inspired pieces, and one-of-a-kind artwork. To date, my two favorite pieces have been a flower and lions intarsia family established sign, and a moss logo sign for South Boulder Pediatric Dentistry.

I think what sets me apart from others is that my artwork isn’t something you can just buy from a store. One of the comments I hear the most is, “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

I’m most proud of a collection (Physis Collection) I am putting together for later this year. It’s a culmination of everything I have learned over my life as a business owner, and putting it all together into a nature-inspired collection.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
There is a massive maker community within Instagram that has made all the difference to me since starting. I have made some really close friends that I otherwise never would have. But the biggest thing is that we all encourage and support one another and share a wealth of knowledge with one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.carbontealcreativedesigns.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/carbonteal
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/carbonteal

Image Credits
Mile High Creatives