Bill Selby, also known as “The Lampman,” creates unique lamps and chandeliers out of natural driftwood roots that wash ashore along rivers and lakes. Selby, originally from Farragut, Tenn., previously worked as a concrete truck driver in Sevierville, a job he enjoyed.
“I loved it. There were long hours, but then I had a chance to get out,” he said.
Spending long hours in his truck waiting on concrete, Selby often let his creative mind wander. After leaving the concrete company, Selby began his artistic endeavors as a bowl artist in Gatlinburg, Tenn. As he developed his skill in bowl making, he came up with an idea for a distinct way to create bowls with a sandy mixture that hardened like concrete. With help from a friend, Selby developed his exclusive recipe that he still uses today to create bowls and eventually lampshades.
For the last eight-plus years, Selby has focused on lamps and chandeliers.
Creative process
Origins and progression of a creative bent
In high school, Selby was attracted to and excelled in classes such as woodshop and automotive. Upon graduating, Selby attended a technical college to study the craft of welding. He held many different occupations and acquired various skill sets before becoming a craftsperson/artist.
Selby draws inspiration from two muses, the first being the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and the second, Mother Nature. In his lamps are glimpses of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous cantilever design, which seems to defy physics, and thus has attracted many admirers and buyers. Like Wright, Selby does not like symmetry of things in even numbers, so his artwork often draws on unconformity and odd numbers.
In most pieces, Selby uses materials such as driftwood, stained-glass, rocks, sand, and sticks. The first step of the creation process is finding raw materials, which can sometimes take days. He uses a small fishing boat to search for pieces of driftwood that have washed ashore along river banks and lake beds. While difficult, Selby tries to keep the procurement of his raw material within a local radius.
After finding suitable wood, Selby lets the pieces sit in his shop to cure and dry, sometimes for as long as six months to a year. After the root cures, Selby begins cleaning and sanding the wood without removing any natural curvature or character.
“Some guys make it look smooth and clean. I don’t like that. I’m fine with open knots. I don’t like uniformity,” said Selby.
The cleaning of the raw wood is the most tedious and time consuming of the overall process. When the wood is clean, Selby starts planning the placement of light fixtures and stained glass.
Selby does not outsource any of his work during the creation of his pieces. All the stained-glass and electrical work is custom made for each piece. Stained-glass was the most difficult skill he had to develop to complete his vision for lamps and chandeliers. With just a four-hour class and much self-regulated practice, he added custom stained-glass creation to his tool belt.
Selby takes great pride in his art and is thankful that each piece goes to people who respect the uniqueness of his work.
“I love what I do. I didn’t even walk into it; I tripped over it,” said Selby.
Selby has sold his work in shows all over the country. His work is for sale at High Country Art in Blue Ridge, Ga. He also accepts commissions, but maintains creative license to allow his lamps and chandeliers to “take their own natural shape” without too many parameters set by buyers.
Selby expressed interest in offering an apprenticeship to anyone interested in learning how to create lamps and chandeliers out of natural materials.
He can be contacted at (828)333-9462 for commissions or interest in an apprenticeship.