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A Desire To Create
Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: October - 2022
Kevin Vinson has talents we didn’t even imagine.
We thought we knew all about Kevin Vinson. We knew him from his days at High Country Photo in Highlands, where his photographic talents were on display, and where he’d earned a reputation as a miracle worker in the darkroom. In fact, when it was time to choose the art that would adorn our first issue of The Laurel, there really wasn’t a debate. Twenty years later, and we’re still amazed. The explosion of Mountain Laurel blossoms backed by a bed of green, that’s how Janet and Marjorie envisioned this magazine springing to life – beautiful in its simplicity yet inviting you to look closer and be seduced by its underlying complexity. It’s pure and bold, and so eloquently a part of the Plateau. And of course, there’s that generous Kevin-ness that’s irresistible, and that sly smile that can crack a block of ice. He’s a natural raconteur and there’s always ready to share a funny story from out of the past or that he’s witnessed from his perch at the Highlands ABC Store. But we have to confess that we never even suspected that Kevin was an accomplished woodworker. Look at the creations that adorn this article – that’s clearly Kevin. They’re precise and intricate and are imbued with an undeniable playfulness. It all springs from an innate desire to create, which naturally led to carpentry. “Woodworking is a hobby and I enjoy being able to create things with not only wood, but with my hands,” he says. “I’ve always had an interest in carpentry, but things began to come into focus when I first started taking shop classes my freshman year in high school.” Through the years, he’s honed his craft, and come to relish the time spent with his tools and his blocks and planks. To some people that may seem lonely, but to Kevin it’s energizing and a marvelous way to stretch his creative talents. In fact, he’s the one who describes it as more than a hobby. “I do have a compulsion to always have a project and sometimes more than one going at same time,” he says. And loneliness? Nope, not a factor. “My wife Monica and my two sons only help when something needs to be carried inside,” he says. “My dogs are my biggest helpers.” Of course, between his obligations at work and at home, it’s not always easy to find time to indulge in his pastime, but Kevin makes sure to block out some stolen moments. “I have to make time and anytime I have days off I try to be doing something,” he says. See? He’s hooked. by Luke Osteen
