Chad Hoffman/Biography

Creation of art has been a natural evolving process through out my life. It's a never ending search that is very satisfying and always leaves me dreaming about what lies ahead. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College Of Visual Arts in St. Paul Minnesota, I was soon to realize that being an artist was a given, but where I would release my creative passion would come in ways that I would have never expected.

With a background deeply rooted in drawing and illustration, I emerged from my formal schooling knowing that I loved to illustrate and my expressive medium of choice happened to be relief printing. Probably not the most efficient way of producing an image in the commercial art world, but that didn't matter in the slightest. I knew why I had fallen in love with the woodblock process, and the extra time it takes to create a piece is all part of the excitement.

I entered the world of illustration just as the computer was quickly becoming a major factor. Focused on honing my technique, I sought out freelance work that would compliment my style. Working with clients such as the Penumbra Theatre, Midwest Jazz Magazine and the Mayo Clinic helped me to grow in new ways. At the same time I continued to unite my passions of music and art, and create new prints.

The biggest twist in my creative life came when going back to school for a masters degree didn't pan out. As my wife and I were in the process of moving, out of basic need and change, I created my first pieces of furniture for our home. I quickly began to teach myself to build my own style of furniture. Merging what I knew about frame construction from my 8 years as a college picture framer, I also began creating my own style of frames that would end up around my prints. Hence, in early 2000, Jolly Woodchopper Studio was born. A way to unify a love for wood, the desire to create art, yet not be too serious.