Meet Paige Halls | Wood Artist

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

Hi Paige, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I had a father who lived to work. He worked so hard to provide for us, that he wasn’t around a lot. While we had everything we needed, we didn’t have him, which would have meant more. When I got out of college, I was quickly following my dads footsteps, but found myself profoundly miserable. The balance of work to life just wasn’t there. My philosophy for my business is to work to live, and enjoy the only life we have. I take days off when I need them. I take weeks off when my family needs an adventure. I (try) most days to be done when my daughter walks thru the door. I want my daughter to remember that work is important, but never more important than time with her. As you get older, the work life balance always evolves. Everyones priorities are different. I’m not concerned with what I leave behind, I”m concerned with what I have right now, and how I can make the most of it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I had ideas for art for a long time, but never had the confidence to put any of it into action. I had a solid watch and jewlery box making business. It wasn’t until COVID happened, where the anixety felt around the world shook my inhibitions free. While others were doing a service of sewing masks, I took to making plant art. Plants offer me, and others around the world therapy, plant shopping was dearly missed. Once I did some of those and felt the nerons of peace and happiness firing, I thought, I bet others need this too. So I quickly got to work and made DIY painting kits. The kits included real wood, so those in cities could feel the forest in their hands. It included a frame, paint, and glue, so that the style the customer choose could be completed 100% by them. What I was trying to do was to bring an afternoon of light for others but then quickly got addicted, and then my art snow balled from there.

I now do a majority of outdoor landscape scenes all made completely from wood, but the thing that sets my art apart from all the other wood artists is my wood landscapes are 3D. There are layers and layers of wood, stain, & paint ranging from forests, to mountains, to lakes, and the sea. I have standard scenes that I offer, but my passion is for the custom work I get choosen to do. Right now I’m working on a 72×24 piece of Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods, which man, it really is just turning out so goooooood.

I have had some issues as any busines does, the rescession has hit art hard, driving sales down. China scamers have stolen all my photos of my work, offering a horrendous, tiny fake on facebook for a FRACTION of the price. But I just continue to do what I know brings joy to others, and hope that the upswing is in motion.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Nashville, TN – which you wouldn’t know by looking at my art 🙂 I have lived in Nashville off and on for 20 years. It has always been a city I came back to because of its ease. I couldn’t say that about the current Nashvegas, but we still have some pretty neat things. We love local, our favorite place to eat dinner is a small place in our neighborhood called The Yellow Porch, which has been around for more then 20 years. You may be one of the youngest customers in there, but that just shows they have been doing it right for a very long time. The fritters, penner, and their bread – drool worthy.
For drinks I would have to say the Audrey Bar. It is a trendy new place of the famous Sean Brock, but the concept is so unique. You don’t say you want a vodka martini, you are presented with a tray of local in season herbs, fruits, vegetables, and choose one. Your drink is made from that. A true testinament of how in season, local foods are the best to consume in all the ways.
A night out for us is always at “the mother church” as us locals call it. Or what you might know as The Ryman. If you are wanting to see a show in Nashville, please, skip Bridgestone, and go to the Ryman, Sit in the balconcy as close to the front as you can. I can gurnatee you will tell your friends it was the best concert you have ever been a part of. Because thats what you are. A part of the magic, not just a spectator.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be with a thriving business today, without the constant suppport of my partner Sammy. When I started what he considered a “cute stay at home mom hobby” he encouraged my creative need. When it doubled in size quickly he jumped in and started taking over aspects of the job that allowed me to continue to grow. When it became a full time gig he stopped his own line of work to work beside me. When I decided I needed to do more artisically he gave the positive feedback I needed to get them off the ground. He stains for me, he runs every business errand, he packs every box, he learns tricks on the computer I just don’t have the capacity for, he is my full time business and life partner. There would be no Buttons and Pearl with out Sammy.

Website: www.buttonsandpearl.com

Instagram: @buttonsandpearl

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Image Credits
Photos all property of Buttons and Pearl –