Makers: An Interview with Clint Wilkinson, Founder of Bell & Oak
Continuing our ongoing Makers interview series, I had the chance to speak with Clint Wilkinson, founder of Bell & Oak, about his craft, background, and where he’s hoping to carry the brand in the future.
As you will’ve seen above, we’ve also produced a remarkable video of Clint producing his leather coasters — as part of Need, Vol. 9 — in Denton, Texas. If you’re anything like us, you’ll be stunned by the sheer attention to detail he brings to each coaster from beginning to end.
Somewhat fittingly following my article about WELD last week, the video’s production has a lovely story. Several WELD members — Ben Larzabal, Paul Golangco, Suzanne O’Dell, and Sean Berry — were coincidentally visiting with Clint to learn more about his process.
Upon noticing a significant pile of coasters, they asked who had ordered them. “A company called Need,” he replied. Stunned by the coincidence, the group immediately shot a video of his process as a gift for us.
It’s a perfect piece of punctuation to round off last week’s article, emphatically demonstrating the entirety of my points about community, friendship, and talent.
In this instance, we evidently share a fascination with Clint — a graphic designer turned leather maker — and his story. And now we’re here to share that with you.
1. I read that it was your grandfather's leather shop, Weldon’s, which inspired the establishment of Bell & Oak. Where do you see your grandfather’s influence within Bell & Oak?
You can see it in my work ethic for sure. He's always shown great patience when working on a piece of leather, ensuring that its done right from start to finish. I take that and put it into everything I make to one day be as great as him.
2. You were in graphic design before starting your own leather crafting business. What is the greatest difference between the two jobs? Then, too, where has your previous profession influenced your current position?
The greatest difference between graphic design and what I do know is the pace in which something is completed. In my previous line of work, it was always about how fast can you get something done while still making it look insanely good. With leather craft it teaches you to slow down, take your time, and get rid of all the distractions that the computer brings you. On the other hand, I feel that my experience in design, photography, and web have all helped me create this brand essentially by myself. Of course I've had great help from other people like Curtis Jinkins who designed my logo, and Mike Tabie who designed my packaging. But, if it weren't for knowledge in all those fields, I wouldn't be able to maintain the necessary things to keep the brand "fresh".
3. You mention a “western lifestyle” growing up thanks to your dad’s side of the family — your dad himself being a professional calf roper. (I understand the “cowboy way” perfectly as my dad was a bull rider and ranch hand.) Although I cannot say I followed in my dad’s footsteps, did you ever give roping a try?
When I was around 11 years old they tried to get me to rope, and I just wasn't feeling it. So when I turned 12 years old they bought me a dirt bike for Christmas and it was all downhill from there! I rode dirt bikes until I was 21 and loved every second.
4. As a result of your childhood, it seems a bit inevitable you would eventually end up doing what you are today. Having said that, is there a moment you can clearly recall thinking about how you could carry on the family legacy?
I don't think that happened until I settled down to have a family of my own. When you have kids it really changes your outlook on life in general- you start thinking about your own parents. Things start to mean more to you, such as time... time is super important when you're a parent. You can't get that time back with your kids, parents, or grandparents. Running a family business allows certain opportunities that others don't have, such as getting to see your family more regularly. Once I put that into perspective, I realized that I wanted to do something that allowed for that just like my Grandfather did with his shop. The only way I knew how to achieve that was through leather.
5. You have a strong passion for motocross from what I can tell in reading your background. Do you still get on your bike from time to time? Or have you retired from that entirely?
I quit riding when I was 21 years old when my racing partner/ best friend died in a tragic dirt bike accident. It was at that time I knew I needed to focus more on what mattered instead of trying to be a professionally motocross rider. After that I really started focusing on my design skills, and ended up getting a job with a motocross magazine that was nationally published.
6. Where does a passion for leather crafting — particularly the attention you give to detail — come from? Have you always been detail-oriented, or this something you learned to love when you took up the art of leather?
I've always been detail oriented. As a kid I was taught the slightest details matter in anything you do because it shows you care.
Makers is an interview series conducted by Need with some of our most favorite brands, designers, and artists.
Bell & Oak's coasters are part of Need, Vol. 9.