“I was watching a lot of Bob Ross to relax, and I thought, I could do this. I could create,” David DeJulio shares, remembering his career-changing epiphany. “I didn’t want the next 30 years of my life to be sitting in an office, typing at a computer, smiling and dialing.”
Nearly four years have passed since DeJulio left the fast-paced worlds of corporate sales and real estate, turning his love of woodworking—a craft he learned from his father—into a full-time vocation under the name Personal Inspirations Custom Woodcrafts & Art. As a real estate agent, he always enjoyed gifting clients wooden cutouts in the shape of Virginia to celebrate their new homes.
Now, working from the converted garage of his own Arlington home, he sells the cutouts ($150), as well as fine charcuterie boards (starting at $180) and handcrafted live-edge furniture pieces, many of which are created on commission.
He showcases his work at select craft fairs, and will be at the Old Town Arts and Crafts Fair in Alexandria on June 8.
For contrast, DeJulio often juxtaposes natural woods, such as maple burl or walnut, with colorful epoxy resins, which he pours by hand to achieve a marbled effect. This striking combination finds its way into pieces ranging from sleek, full-size dining tables to intricate coffee tables with industrial metal legs.
Dedicated to quality, he designs and builds each piece to stand the test of time, sourcing wood with interesting grains and textures from Shenandoah Valley sawmills.
“I’ve put sweat and sometimes even blood into these projects, but a lot of the process—like sanding—is very meditative and relaxing,” says the artist. “I spend hours and hours with every piece, and it just feels so good when I am finished—knowing that I’ve made something that’s going to last a lifetime through multiple generations.”