Chris Winding majored in Fine Arts from Roanoke College, nestled in the BlueRidge Mountains in Salem,Va. He studied ceramics mainly and continued his love for clay over the years. In early 2015, he began converting his home-built studio (see the studio build) into a wood shop. His passion for crafting comes from working with his hands while helping his father as a boy. Together they rebuilt an old wooden boat as well as many home renovation building projects. Now, he is exploring with wood crafts and creating visually exciting hardwood functional pieces.