Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Davis.
Hi Brooke, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I fell in love with the idea of using the CNC machine to create one off pieces of artistic furniture when I was in graduate school at Purdue University. My grad thesis was based on utilizing mass production techniques to create limited run art. It was pretty forward thinking 20+ years ago, but now its pretty common place to see makers using these machines. I have always had at least one foot in the teaching door, so I managed to use university machines until I could get my own. That happened when I moved to Austin. In 2011 I opened up make+ Shift atx- a design on demand resource to help people create their ideas and have been playing on the CNC Machine ever since. When I’m not teaching or helping others make their designs, I am working on my own furniture pieces.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There is not really a road map for when you are trying to design never seen before ideas and try new techniques, so there is basically a lot of trial and error. Some times those trials can be costly with both time and money. Balancing my own design interest with client work can be challenging.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Most people know me as the girl with the CNC Machine. All of my work has been done with using the CNC in some part of the process. Over the years, I have been expanding my skills sets in CAD modeling by taking classes in other design fields like jewelry and car design. I can then transfer these skills sets to my designs in furniture. There is a huge amount of surface blending that goes into my designs. My artistic style might be described as a sort of contemporary art nouveau. I really like blending forms that look organic with functional objects. I am always challenging myself to see what else I can get the machine to do. My style is is quite personalized versus following design dictated by a movement or fad. I’m trying to create things that have never been seen before. I think that makes my work very distinct.
I think I am most proud of my latest piece, The Serafim Sofa. Inspired by figures flowers and form in form, this piece speaks to my idea of timeless beauty. It took me 5 years to complete in the background while I was teaching and working on other peoples projects. I also took 2 classes so that I could figure out how to model in the computer what I was seeing in my head. Luckily, no one was waiting on this so I had the time to really finesse the design and try to prefect my craftmanship with developing my artistic voice.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
no
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brookemdavisdesign.com
- Instagram: brookemdavisdesign
- LinkedIn: brooke m davis
Image Credits
Brooke M Davis
