Billings woodworker Jesse Vint transforms wood into art

“My entire existence revolves around wood,” the artist expressed, as he stood in his studio located on the far west end of Billings. The studio is expansive, consisting of two storage garages that are impeccably organized and filled with tools of all sizes, ranging from large saws capable of splitting a tree in half to smaller tools used for intricate detailing. Wood is prominently featured everywhere – stacked in corners, propped up for ongoing projects, and utilized in most of the furniture and storage units. The natural, sweet aroma of wood permeates the space.

“Wood is a precious resource,” he continued. “So, I try to give it a dignified second life.”

His workshop is full of these second lives. Currently, he is in the process of crafting a table. The tabletop is nearly completed, or at least mostly carved, and he is focusing on perfecting the design of the legs.

“The overall look will be very mid-century modern,” he explained. “The main body, which will be tapered, will be crafted from spalted maple.”

Underneath, there will be a floating box where the grain will flow seamlessly, and the corners will be finely detailed. The finished desk legs will resemble socks.

Vint speaks about his projects with a mixture of artistic passion and parental care. These creations are not just a means of income; they are unique and valuable works of art. Each detail has to be just right.

Vint’s process commences with a meticulously designed digital plan on his computer, which he then translates into wood. The designs are precise and intentional, not haphazardly crafted, as he described it.

“The wood communicates with you first,” he stated. “It provides the initial inspiration and also ultimately dictates the final outcome.”