Q&A with Billy Sproul of Slab Fab Studio

Today’s artist spotlight is on talented Asheville furniture maker Billy Sproul, owner of Slab Fab Studio. Billy specializes in welded steel creations including tables, bed frames, desks and more. His pieces have an industrial and contemporary edge, often combining steel frames with smooth cast concrete or rustic wood surfaces. I’ve had the pleasure to collaborate with Billy on a few projects recently. Not only does he possess a wonderful design sensibility and great skill in his craft, his sense of humor makes collaboration so much fun! Billy was gracious enough to answer a few questions for me to post here on the blog today, along with some photos of his recent work.

Q&A with Billy Sproul

Please share a little background about yourself. Where did you learn your craft, and how did your business get started?

I have a background and degree in Fine Art (painting) from the San Francisco College of Art. But I really helped put my self through art school being a handyman/carpenter/builder, so I was fortunate to “have an eye” for form and beauty, and also be to  “handy” with how things go together. I have worn many hats in trying to make a living career wise. I was most always drawn to problem solving and design that help make solutions to people’s businesses and lives.

I do believe I have finally found what I want to do when I grow up! I’m a lucky guy I guess.

Many of your pieces are made of welded steel and concrete. What led you to focus on these materials?

I learned to weld by trial, error, observation, and a very good “get your feet wet” introduction to welding class at the AB Technical College here in Asheville. I needed to learn welding because I was focused on found object art sculpture at the time, made mostly of steel scraps etc. Bolting and gluing the metal pieces was not immediate enough a solution for me. The nature of found object art (to me) is one based on instinct and the need to confound ones own visual expectations. In a sense to let the design come from the material’s inherent characteristics.I think I carry this respect for materials characteristics into my present work. I don’t try to hide the fact that my fallible hand welded the steel pieces together or that there were natural flow processes involved with the casting of concrete. Each material element I use has a human hand, and story of its making within it.

What part of the process of designing and building  furniture do you enjoy the most?

I like the abstract qualities of the design process… that sometimes you are working to forge something solid from the vapor of a phone conversation. Or a 1000 pound wall hanging street sign from a cocktail napkin sketch. Coming up with the right solution, executing that, and delivering the real life product of that vision… is always magical to me. I am a big advocate of Google Sketch Up. It is a free 3D  design program that has  revolutionized my work and career. I have tackled complicated designs that I never would have dreamed of… because I can truly resolve all of the design issues without leaving the kitchen counter. This free 3 D design program can save untold mental errors, costly setbacks, and just badly conceived design solutions. It is also an invaluable tool as far as conveying design ideas in scale to a client… so that they know what they are getting largely up front. Everyone who enjoys making things or organizing space should play with this software!

All this said, I really enjoy working with my hands. There is just something so gratifying about having a great idea, a good plan, and a patient approach to manifest that idea into reality. Lastly, customer satisfaction is very important to me. I want my clients to feel they have something handmade and unique, something tailored to their life. All the pieces I make in my shop are my babies… they are mine until delivered to my clients. If I’m not super proud of what I do, the care that I put into every piece, what kind of craft would I have? The world is filled with passionless junk that nobody cared to make, but still did… I can’t live like that. I’d rather park cars…

Who or what would you say has most influenced your work?

I’d have to give my lovely wife Marie Morris credit for the most influential person in my life. She recognized and supported my passion for making things through thick and thin. While I’ve never been a sit around on the couch kind of guy… I have had on several career hats.I do believe everything I have done has prepared me for this time in my life… I owe a mountain of gratitude to Marie for being at my side through it all.

What is your most favorite piece you’ve made?

My favorite piece would be any piece that stretched my aesthetic, that challenged my skills, that made me learn something new. That would be many projects. Some of this has to do with challenges brought on by clients’ unique commission interests. I fabricated and engineered  an “Infiernillo” (an Argentinian BBQ grill) for a client who owns a Bed and Breakfast here in North Carolina. I had never seen or heard of one before. All the client had was one blurry picture…  I had to delve into that picture and devise the best solution for my client. The grill ended up 5 feet tall and 7 feet long weighing 400 pounds. But I had designed it largely to be put together by one person. I understand that my client is honing his grilling skills, and I can’t wait to taste the fruits of our labor. I usually find  collaboration with clients “vision” a very nice element of the design process. Tailoring the solutions to fit real needs of space, look, and life style…. isn’t that what good design is? I recently made a concrete and steel sink vanity with a undermount sink, steel base, enclosed in distressed and stained cypress wood. The client opted for reeded glass doors enclosing the front of the vanity. The piece turned out as elegant and beautiful as anything I have ever made. I am so thankful that we took this piece to this custom place. It really turned out to be a fantastic solution.

Describe your dream project.

It may sound cliche, but I am truly living the dream… Getting paid to do what I love to do? PRICELESS!

7. What should customers interested in purchasing your work know?

All good things take time…. I’d love to satisfy everyone’s need right away, but I only have so many hands and hours in the day. My work incorporates some of the natural characteristics or the materials/processes I use. Expect everything to be elegantly and sublimely true to the materials…. hand made. I love doing custom work and commissions in design or fabrication.

See more of Billy’s work on his website, slabfabstudio.com (see the Fab Gallery). And to see some of his work in person, visit Dwellings of Asheville (Dwellingsinspired.com) and K2Studio of Asheville (K2Furniture.com).

All photos courtesy of Billy Sproul, via slabfabstudio.com.

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Tamara Leicester is a licensed interior designer and owner of Tamara Heather Interior Design, LLC. She designs casually elegant interiors with an artistic sensibility, often drawing upon the talent of local artists and craftspeople in her work. Dreaming about updating your space? Learn more at tamaraheatherinteriors.com.