Life & Work with Trent Davis of LOVELAND

Today we’d like to introduce you to Trent Davis.

Hi Trent, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always had an artistic side. It’s something that cannot be explored while paying the bills through trade work. Unless you are with a one of a kind company. Even then one must stay in the lines provided by blueprints and engineers. So for a good 20 to 25 years, my artistic side became dormant while I tended to the things that needed tending. About 10 or 11 years ago, with my amazing wife’s blessing, I struck out on my own. I was still in trade work, but slightly less confined.
While working for myself, I started to notice more artistic ways of solving problems were coming to mind. Over the next few years more and more ideas, or musing if you will, began to spring to mind unbidden. Wood working was the first medium I worked in beacuse it was familiar to me. Then I started to work with resins. Then I started to combine those two mediums into new and exciting things. The more sucess I found bringing my ideas to life, the more ideas sprang forward!
Then my musings took me into the world of baking. I started to create artistic cakes. I taught myself to make French pastries. All in an effort to unknowingly facilitate my artistic rebirth. I taught myself a few more small skills before I got the idea to start making candles. It is so much fun! Then lip balms, and of course on to soap. All the while teaching myself to paint with oils! It really seems to be an unending artistic, creative journey that I am blessed to be on, and am excited to see where it goes next!
Not one single step of this amazing adventure would be possible without my Lord and Savoir Jesus Crist and my beautiful, intelligent, amazing wife Stephanie!!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. There have been many personal challenges that I have had to overcome, and some that I am still working on. Putting myself and my work out for public consumption is TERRIFYING!! I am an awkward person to begin with, so public speaking was right up there with swimming with alligators while having bacon tied around my neck, at least for me.
I do find trying to convey my artistic conception sometimes can be very challenging. There can be quite a bit of dissapointment I guess, but artistic interpretation is a very personal thing, and I have had to learn to be more accepting of other points of view, even in my work.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Let’s see, my work huh? I try to create “functional art”. Something that will hopefully “WOW” my customers. Something they will not see at thier friend’s or neighbor’s house. Something that sparks conversation, possibly even inspires some else to make something that is one of a kind!
I work with woods of differing species, resins, both table top and pressure pot. I work on my lathe to make many different things. I bake and cook. Of late, I have begun a venture into handmade candles, lip balms, and soaps. I do keep all my ingredients natural and simple.
I think I would have to say I specialize in…ya know…I really do not know how to answer that right now. I think I am known for the diversity of things I create and do. For teaching myself to do the things that I do.
I would have to say that I am most proud of the personal work and growth it has taken to even do this interview. And to get to the point of being able to sell my pieces without fear of rejecton and self-doubt.
I don’t know what sets me apart. I think that question would be better left for someone else to answer.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to keep growing this small business. To possibly teach my son, so he can take over one day. Other than that, I’m not sure right now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ahumblecraftsman.com