Wade Brooks is an artist and craftsman in every sense, He and his wife Susan Brooks know no final contentment; each change opens new doors and ushers in new possibilities.
Primarily self-taught, Wade is master woodworker with over 40 years experience in designing and building furniture, an master blacksmith, an accomplished wood carver (with carvings in the Virginia State Capital), an electrical engineer, and a glass artist. Wade and his nephew Robert Matthews, who also works in the business full time, have a saw mill with
witch they saw much of the wood used in the studio as well as for other customers. Ever-continuing to learn and enhance his skills, he has provided fine and functional art for over 30 years with his work reflecting a broad range of styles, themes, and techniques.
Wade has been around sawdust and machinery ever since he could walk. He apprenticed in woodworking and blacksmithing under his father from an early age until completing high school: he then worked in the summer's with his father the years he was in collage studying electrical engineering.
In addition to an electrical business after collage, refurbishing furniture continued to be Wade's side line." In January 1976, my wife Susan and I established Garden Creek Woodworks Inc. I restored and built custom furniture." Six years later Wade was restoring antiques to museum-quality on a full-time basis.
In the mid 1980s, Wade refinished and restored pews and shutters in many churches in his coastal hometown of Mathews, Va. And in surrounding counties in Virginia. Wade learned about stained glass and incorporated that into his business. " I found that if I could incorporate stained glass along with my wood and metal expertise, my skills would be even more in demand."
Wade has gone on to become an accomplished glass artist He studied books, magazines, videos, and attended workshops. " With my blacksmith background, I wasn't afraid of heat I just practiced." Honing his skills through practice, experimentation, and an unwavering love of his craft, Wade learned modern techniques in carved, slumped, stained, lampwork, and blown glass.
Wade and Susan added Artistic Design Studio as a division of Garden Creek Woodworks Inc., to promote their art work and offer classes so others could learn the skills of glass, wood, and metal.
Mathews, Virginia is approximately one and half hours from Virginia Beach or Richmond, and less than an hour from Colonial Williamsburg or York Town. " We're only a few miles from public beaches and have several bed and breakfasts nearby. We're in a great location for people to come here for week-long or weekend work-shops and classes."
