There's very little in the way of woodcraft that Tom Ocampo hasn't made with his own two hands. Cabinetry, furniture of every kind, and finely made, one-of-a-kind architectural details like doors and fireplace mantels have passed through his Carmel Valley, Calif., shop in the past 30 years.
But only now does Ocampo believe he's ready to step up to the next level.
"My heart is in designing and building furniture," said Ocampo. "I'm trying to reinvent myself, and to keep it fun and exciting."
Ocampo is now reaching out - both literally and figuratively - and as of the beginning of 2006, is focusing his attention solely on furniture design.
A curvaceous rocking chair that he designed has been on display at the newly opened educational center of the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts. Ocampo said he was honored to have his work included in the debut exhibition of the center, which showcases works by the West Coast's most talented artisans.
Not bad for a guy who at one time thought he'd be building kitchen cabinets his whole life.
Ocampo, born in Carmel, Calif., in 1954, has lived in Carmel Valley his whole life. His grandfather helped build many of the homes in the Village during the 1950s, and Ocampo's father, a roofer, was known for his agility and the speed at which he could hand-nail.
As a boy, Ocampo dreamed of being a professional baseball player. But a series of family tragedies and obligations waylaid any thoughts of sports stardom. His mother and father divorced, and his father died during Ocampo's senior year of high school. Ocampo was awarded custody of his younger brother and sister. "It was then I realized I needed a family more than I needed baseball," said Ocampo.
Financial and emotional support came from the Carmel Valley community, enabling the siblings to stay together. Ocampo married his high school sweetheart, Linda, who at his side throughout it all.
The Ocampos bought a one-bedroom cabin near the Village in 1975 and have continued to lovingly expand and improve it ever since, while raising their son and daughter there.
The cozy home is filled with Ocampo's furniture and all kinds of custom touches - for instance, window frames made from a redwood felled in the Ocampos' own back yard. It's been a labor of love, and one that both husband and wife have been part of. "Nothing is ever my way or her way, it always becomes our way," said Tom Ocampo. "Linda is one of my best critics and has contributed to the evolution of my designs."
The road to his current career came with a few stops and U-turns along the way. Ocampo first followed in his father's footsteps and worked as a roofer. However, after falling and breaking his leg, he decided roofing wasn't for him. He then found a job at an antiques warehouse on Cannery Row and became fascinated by the array of beautiful items there. "A lot of it needed to be reassembled and restored before sale, and it gave me a chance to see how furniture was made," he said.
As chance had it, Linda was working as a mortgage loan officer, and happened to meet a cabinetmaker named Richard Trytten. She told Tom that it might be a trade that would suit him. Ocampo applied to Trytten's shop and was accepted as a cabinetmaker's apprentice. He had to work days and attend school at night to learn the trade.
Ocampo worked at several cabinet shops on the Monterey Peninsula before going out on his own. He also learned something about himself in the process: "I couldn't imagine spending my life working in a cubicle in some office in a city. I had to work with my hands and feel the freedom and satisfaction creativity can give."
While building cabinets, he restored furniture on the side. Before long, he began to design and build his own, something he found deeply satisfying. Ocampo's work was shown at the prestigious California Design '94 exhibition in San Francisco, and other Bay Area galleries took note and asked to exhibit his work.
His style, best described as traditional with a modern edge, has continued to grow and evolve over time. These days, much of his inspiration comes from legendary furniture designer Sam Maloof, who has become a close friend. The two met in 2005, leading to the Ocampos' involvement in the Maloof Foundation educational center in Southern California, and Ocampo attending one of Maloof's master classes in Aspen, Colo.
Maloof's encouragement has meant the world to Ocampo, who notes that his mentor's work can be seen in the Smithsonian.
"Sam didn't start designing furniture until he was 50 years old," said Ocampo. "It makes me realize that I'm just starting."
source : Wooden Toys
