Some say that all good things take time—and Hollyrock Gallery is no exception. Founder Jeff Davis hand-carves all of his designs with care and precision to produce quality pieces that reflect all that is “wild” and “wonderful” in his home state of West Virginia. Jeff has been bringing the great outdoors to life for over 40 years, but his passion for artwork began at an early age.

“I would have to say that I have been in training all of my life,” Jeff says. “My dad was a professional artist. In addition to carving totem poles and painting, he also built signs for the West Virginia State Parks he oversaw as a Park Superintendent.”

It wasn’t long before Jeff started following in his father’s footsteps with creations of his own. “I took an interest in my dad’s art at a very young age and began doing my own carvings and paintings.”

Now, Jeff channels this interest into every piece of art he creates. He begins by selecting his canvas from hardwoods native to the Mountain State, including chestnut, maple, oak, sassafras and white walnut. Then, he uses a mallet and chisel to carve out various designs. After sanding the carving by hand, Jeff adds color and detail to the piece with acrylic paint. Finally, he completes the piece by applying a finishing gloss.

“The goal is to create three-dimensional pieces that my customers and their families can enjoy,” Jeff says.

In the past, Jeff has demonstrated both in and out of state at the Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival at Harper’s Ferry, as well as Washington, D.C. and Waterford, Virginia. He has also presented his pieces at Ripley’s Mountain State Arts and Crafts Fair where he served on the Board of Directors for nine years. He was even invited to be a White House restoration artist years ago.

Jeff says that the most rewarding part of what he does is being able to connect with others on a personal level. He has taught art classes in the public school system for over thirty years, which has given him the opportunity to interact with people of all ages. He has even given his students the chance to participate in his work by asking them to help him sand various pieces.

Although Jeff has since retired from teaching, he says that he misses helping his students learn about the world around them through art.

“The kids were the best part of my job,” he says. “But I’m excited to use my retirement to focus more on my art. My goal is to refine my work to appeal to different collectors and customers.”

Hollyrock Gallery is Jeff’s first independently-owned gallery. Hollyrock Gallery opened its doors in late spring of 2023 in Downtown Lewisburg, West Virginia. Jeff hopes that this will help expand his consumer base while allowing him to connect with the art community of his hometown.

“This is the first chance I’ve really had to focus completely on my work as an artist,” he says. “I’m really excited to see how this pushes me to come up with new ideas for my work and how my brand is able to grow through the support of other local artisans and my hometown.”