Meet Ben Popowski | BenWoodCarving

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

Hi Ben, why did you pursue a creative career?
As an engineer, I’ve always been working in an industrial environment where productivity and efficiency are among the most important skills to master. Even if I was an artistic kid, painting, drawing and playing music, I had left aside the artistic part of my personality to embrace my professional career. 2020 and the pandemic was definitely a wake up call! With a lot of time in my hands, I started carving my first piece of basswood and I quickly realized this was exactly what I had been missing out for all those years. All my childhood artistic side suddenly came back and since then, it has become my daily practice and my new creative outlet.

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.
My carvings are inspired from various mythologies and traditions. I especially like carving Kodamas who are little Japanese tree Spirits, they are cute and simple. I regularly go to La Jolla Open Air Farmers Market and I absolutely love witnessing the smiling faces of people passing by and looking at my art. Bringing a little joy in the world is definitely my most exciting moment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely start with a burrito at La Playa taco shop in Mission Beach. Best family owned Mexican in town! Then, for the meat lovers, Rocky’s of course. The atmosphere and the burgers are simple but authentic. As you can tell, the best time would definitely gravitate around food. Then, in order to digest, a walk on the bay or in Balboa park. I would definitely bring my best friend to Mesa Rim for some climbing and Pacific Beach for a little surf session.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The wood carving international community is just exceptional! I had no idea how helpful, creative, compassionate, dynamic, etc all those woodcarvers were when I started. I would like to dedicate my shoutout to Doug Linker, Canadian artist and wood carver who inspired me with his Youtube tutorials. Such an interesting character and great human being!

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BenWoodCarving

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_wood_carving/

Image Credits
Patricia Montilla-Perez