Meet Brandon Burkett | Woodworker and Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandon Burkett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandon, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Being able to use my talents and creativity in a professional way has always been a core goal of mine. I have been doing custom woodworking projects and small art shows in the evening and on weekends for years, while my primary occupation was in construction. Making the leap into custom woodwork full time was always where I knew my life was headed, but it really is a leap. It’s very daunting going from knowing you’ve got a paycheck coming to the reality that it’s now entirely up to me. There really is no “right time”. Ultimately for me it was about having enough experience and confidence to know I’d be able to swim, even when things seem uncertain.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Above all else I pride myself in building “the stuff you can’t get anywhere else.” I like to create things that are truly unique. Being able to make unique art is an uncommon skill. It’s something I’ve always had an eye for and for that I am eternally grateful. There’s no greater compliment than when someone walks past all the cutting boards and Christmas ornaments to see my booth and say “now thats different!”, -whether they mean it kindly or not. 🙂

I’m excited to have made it this far without compromise. I have always built what I thought was cool first and looked for customers later. That keeps the work fun for me! It has not always been easy, in fact it rarely is. I can’t think of any projects that have gone perfectly smooth from start to finish. All have required careful consideration, attention to detail, and hard work.

One thing that sets my art aside from a lot of others is that I collect most of the materials myself from the forest. Its very farm to table in that way. Many of my sculptures begin with a long hike carrying a chainsaw into areas that need mitigated for protection against forest fires. Anything dead needs cleared away. Some of those dead trees are incredibly beautiful, if you know what to look for.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Northern Colorado, and have been in this situation many times. We would likely plan some sort of summit hike/camping trip with good restaurants mixed in. Likely we would head down southwest to the Buena Vista/Sailda area in Chaffee County, CO. Thats always been my favorite part of the state and I know it well. We’d pick up some food and Montuckys, set up camp, and get up before sunrise to *attempt* one of Colorado’s many peaks in the Sawatch Range. Then we’d drive back home, stopping at Casa Sanchez in Leadville for a burrito and margarita. We’d probably end the night with a visit to one of our favorite local dives like Burk’s Tavern in Loveland, CO and head home for a scary movie!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom has always been one of the hardest workers I’ve known in my life. When we were kids she worked full time at a local hospital and often was on call over night, even with a house full of kids.
My dad always pushed me when I felt like giving up. I think particularly of his support in my completion of the Colorado Trail in 2016, a 485 mile backpacking trek through the Colorado wilderness which took me 31 days to complete. Without him I likely would have given up after week one.
My grandparents have always showed me how to have fun and inspired my creative mind with the possibilities found in a garage full of tools.
And of course my wife, who has been my biggest fan and supporter since day one. She constantly inspires me with her hard work, artistic talent, and unwavering faith. Without her, there certainly would not be a Takayama Woodshop.

Website: https://takayamawoodshop.com

Instagram: @TakayamaWoodshop