Garner generally works on commission, trusting wordof-mouth, craft fairs and her Facebook page (The Little
Things) to bring her clients; but she’s about to become a
bit more aggressive.
“I just ordered a whole bunch of marketing materials,” she said, “and I’m about to visit local businesses
and make sure that they know that if they need any kind
of art for their business or even for their home, I’m the
person they need to call.”
Garner grew up and graduated high school in Cedar
Hill. She earned a degree in English from Texas A&M.
She and husband, Jay, an industrial engineer, moved the
family from Azle to Aledo three years ago.
At her son Layton’s age, 8, Garner knew she wanted to
be an artist, and her recent success is not unlike dreams
realized. “I’m not going to retire anytime soon, but I feel
like if I’m profitable at it I can call myself an artist, and
that’s the most I can hope for.”
A dream come true … splinters and all.
And, really, it’s the visual aspects of materials that first
attract Garner.
“What I’m influenced most by are the pieces of wood
that I find,” Garner replied when asked if other artists had
influenced her style. “If I find an interesting piece of wood,
I kind of just go from there. Or patterns — different patterns in nature and otherwise. But, usually, if I find a piece
of wood and I think ‘that should not be thrown away,’ I’ll
try to make something out of it. If it lends itself to more of
the shape of a clock, I make a clock. Or [I may] cut out letters or shapes out of it. It’s mostly materials that influence
me, to put it briefly.”
JUNE 2015
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
Though she has no formal art training, she comes by her
talent honestly, as her father is a worker in wood — a carpenter. According to Garner, he has taught her a lot about
tool selection and use. Her woodworking grandfather and
older male friends at her church have also helped her hone
her skills.
“I’ve had a lot of people answer questions for me, show
me how to use tools, [tell me] how to decide which tool is
best for what I’m trying to do. That’s where I’ve gotten my
education the last year or two,” she said.
Asked if she has a Dremel tool, Garner laughed and said,
“Yes, I do!”
“People know what to get me for a gift,” she added. “Last
year for Mother’s Day my husband got me a table sander,
and I was pretty excited about that. I bet I was the only
mom who got one!”
52
TOP: One of 8-year-old Layton’s colorful
clay creations. BELOW: Garner’s mixed
media barrel racer.